Japan's defense chief calls for 'active use' of combat drones

Nobuo Kishi looks to align Tokyo and Washington's national security priorities

An RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drone sits in a hangar at a U.S. Air Force base. Japan has the RQ-4B version but is also considering adopting armed drones. © Reuters

SHUNSUKE SHIGETA and RIEKO MIKI, Nikkei staff writers, and JUNNOSUKE KOBARA, Nikkei security affairs editor

May 3, 2022 20:01 JST

TOKYO -- As unmanned aerial vehicles prove a critical tool in Ukraine's resistance to the Russian invasion, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi has signaled a growing interest in applications for combat drones.