Civilian Facilities to Be Used For Developing Drones, Missiles; Japan Seeks to Bolster Sustained Combat Capabilities

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:47 JST, April 7, 2026

The government intends to develop drones and missiles using production facilities designed for civilian goods, in a bid to strengthen sustained combat capabilities through low-cost mass production, according to the Defense Ministry and other entities.

The plan was explained on Monday at a meeting held by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Research Commission on Security regarding revisions to the three security-related documents.

Attention has focused on “new methods of warfare” in Russia’s prolonged aggression against Ukraine, such as the mass deployment of low-cost drones to destroy bombers.

Drawing on these lessons from the Ukraine situation, the Japanese government intends to establish a foundation for manufacturing drones and guided missiles at low cost and in a short timeframe, in preparation for a protracted conflict.

The government is also considering the introduction of a “government-owned, privately operated” model in which manufacturing infrastructure would be nationalized but its operation entrusted to private companies.

Lawmakers at the meeting on Monday cited the need to boost demand, starting in peacetime, for civilian goods that can be also used for drone production and other purposes.

Prior to the meeting, the government presented a draft revision of the Implementation Guidelines for the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology to the commission’s leadership. The draft includes provisions for ex post facto notification to the Diet regarding exports of lethal weapons.