Japan to replace attack, observation helicopters with drone fleet

Correction: A previous version of this story misrepresented the status of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Hughes OH-6D Cayuse light helicopter fleet. The service retired them.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan has indicated it will give up its “obsolete” attack and observation helicopters in favor of unmanned systems, according to its defense buildup plans .

They will be replaced by “attack/utility,” “miniature attack” and “surveillance” unmanned aircraft systems, according to the English-language version of Japan’s defense buildup strategy released by the Defense Ministry in January.

That document did not provide further specifics about helicopter replacements. However, a Japanese-language summary showed graphical representations of what appears to be loitering munitions and medium-altitude, long-endurance drones as replacements.

It added that existing Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopters will be armed to maintain the minimum required capability. Japan currently operates about 50 Bell AH-1 Cobra and 12 Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopters. It’s observation helicopter fleet includes 37 Kawasaki OH-1s.

The country originally planned to acquire a new attack helicopter to replace its AH-1s, although that was subsequently canceled.

The elimination of the attack and observation helicopters would come with a reduction in required personnel by about 1,000. The plan comes amid efforts to reorganize the force’s aviation component, which includes the reassignment of air assets to regional army groups instead of the current structure, which attaches aviation squadrons at the division and brigade levels.

Japanese documents did note there will be exceptions, although it did not offer more specifics.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force operates Boeing CH-47 Chinook, Fuji UH-1 and Sikorsky UH-60 helicopters. Japan is introducing the Subaru UH-2 utility helo to replace its UH-1s, with plans to procure 77 between now and 2027. The UH-2 is based on the Bell 412EPI design.

The defense buildup plan also lists other obsolete systems that the country will replace, including nine Asagiri-, Hatakaze- and Abukuma-class destroyers and training ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Twelve Mogami-class frigates with leaner crewing requirements will replace that fleet.

The naval force will also look to reduce its planned number of Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft in favor of an unmanned wide-area maritime surveillance capability.

Japan has ramped up its defense spending to record levels in recent years in response to what it sees as increased threats from China and North Korea, and it recently committed to raising its defense budget to 2% of its gross domestic product , up from the current level of just over 1%.

Mike Yeo is the Asia correspondent for Defense News.

更正：此前报道错误地描述了日本陆上自卫队休斯OH-6D“卡尤斯”轻型直升机机队的现状。该部队已将这些直升机退役。

澳大利亚墨尔本——根据日本的国防建设计划，日本已表示将放弃“过时的”攻击和侦察直升机，转而使用无人系统。

根据日本防卫省1月份发布的英文版防卫建设战略，这些无人机将被“攻击/通用”、“微型攻击”和“监视”无人机系统所取代。

该文件并未提供关于直升机替代方案的更多细节。然而，一份日文摘要以图示形式展示了疑似巡飞弹和中空长航时无人机作为替代方案。

声明还补充说，日本陆上自卫队现有的直升机将配备武器，以维持最低限度的作战能力。日本目前拥有约50架贝尔AH-1“眼镜蛇”攻击直升机和12架波音AH-64D“阿帕奇”攻击直升机。其侦察直升机机队包括37架川崎OH-1侦察直升机。

该国最初计划采购新型攻击直升机来取代其AH-1型直升机，但后来取消了该计划。

取消攻击和侦察直升机将使所需人员减少约 1000 人。该计划出台之际，正值部队重组航空兵部队之时，其中包括将空中资产重新分配给地区集团军，而不是像目前这样将航空中队配属到师和旅级单位。

日本的文件确实提到会有例外情况，但没有提供更多细节。

日本陆上自卫队装备有波音CH-47“支奴干”、富士UH-1和西科斯基UH-60直升机。日本正计划引进斯巴鲁UH-2通用直升机以取代现有的UH-1，并计划在2027年前采购77架。UH-2基于贝尔412EPI设计。

该国防建设计划还列出了日本将要替换的其他老旧系统，包括日本海上自卫队的九艘朝雾级、旗风级和阿武隈级驱逐舰和训练舰。十二艘人员配备要求更低的“最上”级护卫舰将取代这支舰队。

海军还将考虑减少其计划采购的川崎 P-1 海上巡逻机的数量，转而发展无人广域海上监视能力。

近年来，日本为应对其认为来自中国和朝鲜日益增长的威胁，已将国防开支提高到创纪录的水平，并且最近承诺将国防预算提高到国内生产总值的 2%，高于目前的略高于 1% 的水平。

Mike Yeo 是《防务新闻》的亚洲通讯员。