Japan has announced its intention to revise its defense strategy, which has remained unchanged since World War II. The country plans to deploy a fleet of kamikaze drones capable of operating at distances of up to 1000 km, which is expected to enhance its defense capabilities in the face of pressure from China.
This is reported by Finway
Japanese Kamikaze Drones: Economic and Strategic Advantage
Under the new concept, Japan is focusing on mass production of affordable and long-range loitering munitions. In the event of escalating tensions, these drones will allow the country to effectively respond to any threats by using cheaper drones instead of expensive missiles. As demonstrated by the experiences of Ukraine and Iran, kamikaze drones have already proven their effectiveness on the battlefield.
“Japan is likely to move away from the defense strategy established after World War II. The Land of the Rising Sun intends to adopt inexpensive kamikaze drones to be able to counter China in the event of war.”
Such drones are capable of autonomously detecting, tracking, and striking targets, making them effective in modern military conflicts. Notable examples include the Iranian Shahed-136, American Switchblade, and Russian ‘Lancet’. The main advantage of these systems is their low cost: producing one kamikaze drone costs about $35,000, while a cruise missile can exceed $1 million. Thus, for the price of one missile, up to 30 kamikaze drones can be produced, which in mass deployment can penetrate the enemy’s air defense.
New Military Capabilities of Japan
A flight range of 1000 km will allow Japan to strike coastal cities in China and enhance its own defensive and deterrent capabilities. Experts predict that in the event of war, Japan will implement a multi-layered strategy: initially launching a mass of inexpensive kamikaze drones to overload the enemy’s air defense, followed by the use of missiles against key targets.
Kamikaze drones are planned to be launched not only from land but also from submarines and ships, with the creation of underwater kamikaze drones also anticipated. Additionally, Japan plans to modernize its fleet by equipping ships with Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 1600 km. This will allow the Japanese fleet to threaten not only China but also other regional players, including North Korea.
The mentioned innovations indicate significant changes in Japan’s defense policy and the country’s desire to adapt to new security challenges.