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Home» News»Japan Coast Guard Moving Forward with Maritime Surveillance UAV Procurement
Japan Coast Guard and JMSDF Planning to Use UAVs for Ocean Surveillance
General Atomics SeaGuardian UAV during demonstration campaign with the Japan Coast Guard at Hachinohe Air Base in Aomori Prefecture. Naval News picture by Yoshihiro Inaba.

Japan Coast Guard Moving Forward with Maritime Surveillance UAV Procurement

According to a report by Japan's public broadcaster NHK, in a press conference held on April 21, 2021, commandant of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Takahiro Okushima revealed that the JCG will proceed with specific studies to introduce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to conduct maritime surveillance and other operations.

Yoshihiro Inaba 23 Apr 2021

The study on the introduction of UAVs in the JCG was prompted by the Japanese government’s decision in December 2016 to adopt a new policy for maritime security. The policy is designed to strengthen the functioning of the JCG in response to the recent activity of Chinese fishing and government vessels in the waters around Japan.

Last October, JCG conducted a demonstration test using General Atomics’ UAV, SeaGuardian, at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Hachinohe base in Aomori Prefecture. According to the JCG, a total of 13 flights, 150 hours flight test was conducted, during which various test items were checked. For example, the Bombardier Q300 (DHC-8-315) operated by the JCG was used to check the SeaGuardian’s collision avoidance system, and in conjunction with the patrol vessel Hida (PL-51), SeaGuardian’s day and night vessel identification capabilities were checked.

[As a result of these tests] “we have come to the conclusion that UAVs can be fully utilized and can carry out the JCG’s mission more efficiently.”



Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Takahiro Okushima

JCG will study how to operate UAVs and where to deploy them with an eye to introducing them in FY2022 and beyond. The specific model of the UAV to be introduced has not been disclosed, but based on last year’s test, SeaGuardian is certainly the most promising candidate:

Japan Coast Guard and JMSDF Planning to Use UAVs for Ocean Surveillance
Japan Japan Coast Guard SeaGuardian UAV 2021-04-23
Tags Japan Japan Coast Guard SeaGuardian UAV
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Authors

Posted by : Yoshihiro Inaba
Yoshihiro Inaba is a Freelance Writer based in Shizuoka, Japan. He is one of the few young military writers in Japan and is currently a student studying international law (especially self-defense and use of force) at a Japanese graduate school. He is particularly familiar with Japan's Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces.

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