Japan Increases Maritime Surveillance: Coast Guard to Receive Four More Large Drones

The Japanese Coast Guard is preparing to expand its fleet of maritime surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles.

At the end of August 2025, the agency released a preliminary budget request for the fiscal year 2026.

The documents reveal plans to purchase four large drones to monitor the country’s surrounding waters, Naval News reports.

Although the official model has not been named, experts believe that it is the MQ-9B SeaGuardian.

Consideration of this system began back in 2016 after the adoption of the inter-ministerial “Policy for Strengthening the Japanese Coast Guard System”.

Since 2020, the agency has been conducting flight demonstrations of the MQ-9B at the Hachinohe airfield, which belongs to the Maritime Self-Defense Forces.

The tests confirmed the safety and effectiveness of this platform. In 2022, a decision was made to purchase it.

The MQ-9B is capable of flying missions for more than 24 hours continuously, which allows it to cover large areas of water day and night.

The system is equipped with modern electro-optical and infrared sensors that provide high quality intelligence. In addition, the system enables real-time transmission of images and information.

The Coast Guard currently operates three MQ-9Bs. Initially, the aircraft were leased, but later they were fully purchased.

Previously, flights were performed from Hachinohe Airfield, but after the lease agreement was completed in March 2025, operations were moved to Kitakyushu Airport in the south of the country. This decision was made due to the need to increase monitoring of the Senkaku Islands.

Two more MQ-9Bs are scheduled to be deployed by March 2026. Taking into account the new purchases, the Japanese Coast Guard will receive nine aircraft of this type by fiscal year 2028.