Japan considers developing Iran-style witness drones: Strengthening deterrence against China

Questioning AI · Why is Japan focusing on unmanned drone composite strike systems for its military buildup?

【Text / Observer Network Wang Shichun】According to a report on the Yomiuri Shimbun website on April 1, the Japanese government and the ruling party have begun discussing whether the Self-Defense Forces should introduce drones with remote attack capabilities. Japan plans to include this in three security assurance documents, including the defense force development plan to be revised within the year. The Yomiuri Shimbun commentary said that the Japanese government plans to use such drones in conjunction with long-range anti-ship cruise missiles to enhance counterattack capabilities, thereby strengthening deterrence against China and other countries.

 

Iran launches the “Witness-136” drone on social media

According to multiple sources among government and ruling-party officials, this is part of Japan’s arms development plan, which was formulated by observing the “new combat modes” brought about by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the US-Israel-Iran conflict. The plan aims to integrate long-range missiles and drones to form a “composite strike” system, so as to attack the enemy’s missile launch bases, thereby weakening the other side’s interception capabilities and improving counterattack effectiveness.

The anticipated range of the drones being considered for introduction is expected to be more than 1,000 kilometers, with the Kamikaze-type suicide drone being the main option. In addition, there are also proposals to introduce drones that can take off from aircraft or submarines and can operate while traveling underwater or on the surface, in order to expand the range and means of counterattacks.

At present, Japan is developing and deploying a series of long-range missiles. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has deployed the “Type 25 surface-to-ship missile,” with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, at the Kengun garrison in Kumamoto Prefecture, and has test-fired a U.S.-made cruise missile with a range of more than 1,600 kilometers—the Tomahawk—on the destroyer “Chokai.”

However, the Yomiuri Shimbun said that Japan hopes to have attack drones that are cheaper and easier to procure in large quantities than missiles, in order to enhance sustained combat capability during prolonged operations.

All countries are also introducing drones with remote attack capabilities. In the conflict with Iran, the United States used the “LUCA (Lukas)” drone with a maximum range of more than 1,000 kilometers, while Iran carried out attacks using its domestically manufactured “Witness” drones. Russia, based on the “Witness,” developed its own drones and carried out composite attacks against Ukraine composed of drones and missiles.

The Yomiuri Shimbun commentary said that, in terms of price, the estimated unit price of a “LUCA” or “Witness” drone is 5.6 million yen, while the price of a Russian cruise missile “Kalibr” can be as high as 160 million yen.

Regarding Japan’s deployment of long-range missiles, Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said that for some time now, Japan’s right-wing forces have been accelerating “remilitarization” actions repeatedly, pushing to revise the “Constitution of Peace,” speeding up the revision of the “Three Security Documents,” and attempting to modify the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles.” Now that Japan has clearly deployed long-range offensive weapons whose range far exceeds Japanese territory, it has completely torn off the disguise of “strictly defensive defense,” “passive defense,” and “self-defense,” fully proving that Japan’s “new militarism” is no longer just a dangerous early sign, but a bare-faced real threat and a serious sabotage to regional peace and security.

We warn the Japanese side that the old road of militarism and reckless pursuit of arms is a one-way path to self-destruction. If the Japanese side dares to use force to infringe on China’s sovereignty and security, it will surely be met with a head-on pounding and an even more thorough defeat.

**This article is an exclusive report by Observer Network. Without authorization, it may not be reproduced.**