Japan’s defense chief calls for more counter-drone tech

TOKYO — Japan’s defense chief Friday encouraged the country to bolster its anti-drone capability after drone footage posted on Chinese social media showed a Japanese aircraft carrier docked at a restricted port west of Tokyo.

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara’s acknowledgement of the vulnerability comes more than a month after a video filmed by a drone showed JS Izumo, one of two Japanese helicopter carriers , being retrofitted to carry stealth fighters to strengthen Japan’s counter-strike capability in the face of China’s military actions in the Indo-Pacific region.

The footage, also showing plants, buildings and facilities at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Yokosuka naval base, was posted on a Chinese social media site in March, prompting an investigation by ministry officials. The footage has also been posted on other platforms, such as X, formerly known as Twitter.

“After the video analysis, we have reached a conclusion that the footage was most likely filmed by a flying drone,” Kihara told reporters.

“We are taking the findings extremely seriously,” the minister added. “If drones harm defense facilities, it could cause serious disruptions to the defense of our country.”

Kihara declined to comment how the drone was able to fly over the flattop undetected, citing security reasons. But he stressed the need to respond to rapid technology advancement of drones and other unmanned vehicles . He also vowed to fortify defense around military bases .

He said Japan will accelerate efforts to introduce more capable anti-drone equipment and strengthen countermeasures such as forcible landing of drones by jamming.

The development comes as Japan accelerates its military buildup with long-range missiles under the ongoing security strategy adopted in 2022. JS Izumo serves a key role in that strategy.

In 2015, a small drone laced with traces of radiation was found on the roof of the prime minister’s office, sparking concerns about unmanned systems and their possible use for terrorist attacks. The incident did not lead to injuries nor damage, but the drone’s owner was convicted of obstruction of business.

Drone flights have since been restricted above key public and diplomatic areas as well as nuclear power facilities. While drones are used widely for industrial, search and rescue, and security purposes, the number of violations involving such technology have also rapidly increased.

东京——周五，日本防卫大臣敦促日本加强反无人机能力。此前，中国社交媒体上发布的无人机拍摄的视频显示，一艘日本航空母舰停靠在东京以西的一个限制区域港口。

防卫大臣木原稔承认这一弱点，此前一个多月，一段无人机拍摄的视频显示，日本两艘直升机航母之一的“出云”号正在进行改装，以搭载隐形战斗机，从而加强日本在面对中国在印太地区的军事行动时的反击能力。

这段视频还展示了日本海上自卫队横须贺海军基地的植物、建筑物和设施，该视频于3月份被发布在中国社交媒体网站上，引发了日本防卫省官员的调查。这段视频也被发布在其他平台上，例如X（原名Twitter）。

“经过视频分析，我们得出结论，这段视频很可能是由无人机拍摄的，”木原告诉记者。

部长补充说：“我们非常重视这些调查结果。如果无人机对国防设施造成损害，可能会对我国国防造成严重破坏。”

木原以安全为由，拒绝透露无人机是如何在不被发现的情况下飞越平顶的。但他强调，必须应对无人机和其他无人驾驶飞行器技术的快速发展。他还承诺将加强军事基地周围的防御。

他表示，日本将加快引进更强大的反无人机装备，并加强干扰等手段迫使无人机降落等反制措施。

这一发展正值日本根据2022年通过的持续安全战略加快远程导弹军事建设之际。“出云”号导弹系统在该战略中发挥着关键作用。

2015年，一架带有放射性物质痕迹的小型无人机在总理府屋顶被发现，引发了人们对无人系统及其可能被用于恐怖袭击的担忧。该事件未造成人员伤亡或财产损失，但无人机的所有者被判妨碍公务罪。

此后，无人机飞行在重要的公共区域、外交区域以及核电站上空均受到限制。虽然无人机被广泛用于工业、搜救和安保等领域，但涉及此类技术的违法事件数量也迅速增加。