The Defense White Paper was published, outlining measures to address new forms of warfare using AI and drones. It also provides an overview of the deployment, price and performance of interceptor drones in Ukraine.
The 2026 Defense White Paper was published. At the outset, Defense Minister Koizumi (小泉) pointed out that the security environment is changing, with countries developing new forms of warfare and hurrying to prepare for prolonged conflicts. The paper places particular emphasis on tactics that use AI, including drones.
The background to the development and deployment of interceptor drones includes the presence of interceptor drones produced locally in Ukraine. The paper also introduced Terra Drone’s acquisition of a company in this field. It described 2 types, remotely operated and autonomous, neither of which has a launch capability. Their top speed is approximately 300 km/h, their range approximately 30–35 km, and their operating time approximately 14–15 minutes.
Drones have had a major impact on tactics on the battlefields of Ukraine and Iran. The report cited posts on the Ministry of Defense’s social media accounts describing examples in which commercially available drones were repurposed for attacks in 2022 and 3 inexpensive drones destroyed an expensive tank in 2023.
The report presents drone prices and performance alongside battlefield examples, illustrating their cost-effectiveness and tactical impact.