A Japanese anti-submarine warfare (ASW) version of the OCCAR-managed Eurodrone uncrewed air system (UAS) is now on the cards.
Airbus and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a Japanese-sovereign-system variant of the in-development uncrewed air system (UAS).
France, Germany, Italy and Spain have been collaborating on the drone since 2016 in a programme overseen by joint armament procurement and lifecycle management agency OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement).
The aim of the programme is to develop an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability which does not rely on non-EU manufacturers; along with India, Japan has held observer status since 2023.
Officially designated as the Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) but unofficially dubbed the Eurodrone, the propeller-driven UAS is set to take to the skies in 2029 and could boast an endurance of up to 40 hours per flight.
As well as ISR, the drone will have a maximum payload of 2.3 tonnes and will be optimised for a range of other missions including target acquisition, early warning, signals intelligence, maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare.
Now, under the MoU signed between Airbus and KHI, the two firms will “develop options for the design, development, and commercialisation for a future Japanese maritime version of Eurodrone, including the definition of possible configurations, integration of Japanese sensors and effectors, and other potential workshare for Japanese industry during production and sustainment.”
The press statement noted: “All this is intended to ensure that Japan can operate the Eurodrone sovereignly and without restrictions, should the country decide to acquire the RPAS.”
- You can read more details about the agreement on the Airbus and Kawasaki Heavy Industries websites and more about the Eurodrone on the OCCAR website