As tensions continue to escalate in the Taiwan Strait, the US military is set to deploy several high-altitude long-range reconnaissance drones to Okinawa, Japan. The region is close to remote islands in southwestern Japan and adjacent to Taiwan. This move is aimed at cooperating with ally Japan to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s disruption of peace in the region.
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani announced on Tuesday (April 8) that the US MQ-4C Triton drones will be sent to the US Air Force base in Kadena, Okinawa in the coming weeks.
Nakatani stated during a press conference, “This deployment is expected to enhance the intelligence collection capabilities of the Japan-US alliance, subsequently improving the alliance’s deterrence and response capabilities.”
According to data from the American defense technology company Northrop Grumman, the Triton drones can operate at altitudes exceeding 50,000 feet (about 15,000 meters), have a endurance of over 24 hours, and a range of 7,400 nautical miles (about 13,700 kilometers).
In May last year, the US military temporarily deployed two MQ-4C Triton drones at the Kadena base for about 5 months.
The US Air Force previously stated, “Kadena’s strategic location makes it an important asset for conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, covering multiple potential conflict points in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The Japanese Defense Minister hinted that amidst escalating military activities by China near the southwestern islands of Japan, this deployment will provide the necessary assistance, noting that “the security environment around our country is becoming increasingly severe.”
While the Chinese authorities are exerting military pressure on Taiwan, they have also dispatched drones close to Japanese territory.
Nakatani stated last week that in the 2024 fiscal year, the number of Chinese drone flights near Japan reached 30, significantly higher than the 4 confirmed flights in the 2021 fiscal year.
The Japanese Defense Minister emphasized that “the security environment around our country is becoming increasingly severe.”
(This article referenced relevant reports from the Japanese Kyodo News)