日本政府周二采纳的598页防务白皮书强调，适应无人机和人工智能等新型作战方式对国防至关重要，并优先推进自主作战无人机在沿海防御中的应用[1]。防卫大臣小池新次郎表示"速度是关键"[1]。为加快开发进度，日本获取、技术与后勤局从38家申请者中选定了4家无人机制造商进入快速开发计划，这些制造商计划在8月初接受海军测试，随后进行最终选择[1]。
日本对地区安全形势的认知持续升级。日本政府在白皮书中将中国列为最大战略挑战，对中国在太平洋地区军舰活动日益频繁表示警惕[1]。去年12月，中国军机在日本西南方向航母训练中锁定了日本飞机雷达[1]；今年6月，日本在其南部伊阿岛附近首次发现两艘中国航母[1]。为应对这一环境，日本近期加强了与地区盟友的防务合作，包括与澳大利亚达成联合开发和转让11艘升级版最上级护卫舰的协议，同时与新西兰讨论类似协议，并已与菲律宾达成退役驱逐舰销售协议[1]。
Japan's government has adopted a 598-page defense white paper that emphasizes the need to adapt to new forms of warfare, including unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, with combat drones designated as key to coastal defense capabilities [1]. The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency selected four drone manufacturers from thirty-eight applicants to participate in an accelerated development program, with naval testing scheduled for early August followed by a final selection [1]. Defense Minister Koike Shinjiro stressed that "speed is key" in this initiative [1].
The push for autonomous combat drones reflects Japan's strategic concerns regarding China, which the government identifies as its greatest strategic challenge [1]. Recent incidents have heightened regional tensions, including an incident last December when Chinese military aircraft locked their radar on a Japanese plane during an aircraft carrier exercise southwest of Japan, and the discovery of two Chinese aircraft carriers near Japan's southern Ito Island in June of this year [1]. Japan has also intensified regional security partnerships, recently reaching an agreement with Australia for joint development and transfer of eleven upgraded Mogami-class frigates [1]. Additionally, Tokyo is pursuing similar arrangements with New Zealand and has already concluded a sale of retired destroyers to the Philippines [1].