Japan Govt, Ruling Parties Mull Deploying Attack Drones to SDF

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:16 JST, April 1, 2026

The government and ruling parties are considering deploying drones with long-range strike capabilities to the Self-Defense Forces, according to sources in the government and ruling parties.

By using the drones along with long-range standoff missiles, which are capable of striking from beyond the range of an enemy’s missiles, the government aims to enhance the effectiveness of counterattack capabilities and strengthen deterrence against countries such as China.

The government plans to include the matter in such documents as the Defense Buildup Program, which will be revised by the end of the year.

It will be part of a plan to prepare for a “new way of warfare” in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the war in Iran — with the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.

By using attack drones and long-range missiles that can strike enemy missile launch sites, a key part of Japan’s counterattack capabilities, the government and ruling parties aim to establish a system capable of conducting coordinated attacks, which would make it difficult for attacks to be intercepted.

The attack drones the government is considering are expected to be suicide drones, that have a range of at least 1,000 kilometers.

Proposals have also been made to introduce models capable of being launched from aircraft or submarines, or navigating underwater or on the water’s surface, to expand the scope and methods of counterattacks.

Long-range missiles include Type-25 surface-to-ship guided missiles deployed at the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture and the U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Type-25 missiles have a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, and the Tomahawk missiles have a range exceeding 1,600 kilometers.

The government and ruling parties plan to acquire attack drones, which are cheaper and easier to mass-produce compared to missiles, in order to make it easier to sustain operations over a long period of time.

Other countries have already introduced drones capable of long-range attacks.

The United States has deployed Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, with a maximum range of more than 1,000 kilometers in combat against Iran, while Iran is using domestically produced Shahed attack drones. Russia is conducting coordinated attacks against Ukraine using missiles and drones based on the Shahed model.

One LUCAS or Shahed is estimated to cost ¥5.6 million, while a Kalibr cruise missile used by the Russian military is estimated to cost ¥160 million.