Japan's air force lost contact on Tuesday with one of its long-distance surveillance drones during a flight off the country's northwestern coast. The uncrewed RQ-4B aircraft, also known as Global Hawk, disappeared from radar and was last seen 50 kilometers (31 miles) off the coast of Tottori.
There was no immediate information regarding the mission of the drone, which is one of three Global Hawks owned by the air force and deployed at its Misawa Air Base in the northern prefecture of Aomori. These drones are capable of conducting long-range missions, flying at altitudes of approximately 60,000 feet (18.3 kilometers) and operating continuously for up to 36 hours. They are utilized by Japan to monitor areas on the Asian mainland, including North Korea and China.
Japan has been working to adapt its defense strategies to incorporate drones for various purposes, including combat and artificial intelligence. As part of its five-year plan established in 2022, the country has doubled its defense spending to about 2% of its gross domestic product. This increase aims to bolster the Self-Defense Forces’ offensive capabilities in response to China’s growing assertiveness. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government is preparing new security and defense strategies, which are expected to be unveiled later this year. Beijing has previously criticized Japan’s defense buildup, labeling it as “new militarism.”