Japan's Bold Move: How Domestic Drone Production Will Transform National Security

Choi Jin-kyung | 2026.04.24

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Drone[Reuters/Yonhap News file photo][Reuters/Yonhap News file photo]

As unmanned aerial systems take on an increasingly central role in modern combat, the Japanese government is moving to spur mass production of domestically made drones through planned revisions to its three major security documents, Nikkei reported Thursday (April 23). Tokyo aims to complete the revisions by the end of the year.The initiative is designed to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and establish a domestic mass-production system that leverages startups. The government plans to actively recruit firms with relevant technologies, ramp up production of dual-use (civilian and military) drones, and arrange to supply those systems to the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in a crisis.Tokyo intends to reflect the plan in the security documents targeted for revision, and the push to expand domestic drone production is expected to be a central issue in expert advisory panels reviewing the changes.Nikkei said the move was prompted by the extensive use of drones in the war in Ukraine and in recent conflicts involving Iran, which underscored Japan’s need to secure domestically produced platforms for contingencies. To sustain combat operations, Japan must be able to procure large numbers of drones at home; Nikkei warned that the country currently lacks the industrial base to do so, a shortfall that could weaken its deterrent.Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told Nikkei, “Domestic production of drones is indispensable.”#Drone #UAV #JapanFor Yonhap TV tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/LINE jebo23; Choi Jin-kyung (highjean@yna.co.kr)