While drones have attracted attention as a mainstay of warfare in the four and a half years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Japanese companies are accelerating their entry into the military drone business. As Japan strengthens its defense strategy, their use in the field and new risks are coming to light.
As the fourth anniversary and a half of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, drones have come to be seen as a force capable of significantly changing the course of a conflict, increasing Japanese companies' incentive to enter the military drone sector.
At the same time, drone operations are creating new realities, with their effects emerging as new wounds of the battlefield, as documented through interviews and reporting.
Reports indicate that, alongside the strengthening of Japan's defense strategy, new businesses involving the use of drones, including a strategic alliance with Toshiba, and joint development projects are taking shape.
In the field, field trials and operations involving industrial drones and other systems are expanding, with further adoption and broader applications of the technology expected.