Japan’s New AI-Powered Combat Drone

Japan’s biggest defense company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), is preparing to carry out the first test flight of its artificial intelligence-enabled drone, scheduled for 2025.

The maiden test flight of the AI-equipped drone will be conducted under a contract with Japan’s Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA), an official at the firm told The Diplomat at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition 2024 (JA2024), held in Tokyo from October 16-19.

This autonomous drone using AI is expected to become a prototype of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that could potentially operate with Japan’s next-generation fighter platform. Under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom are working together to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter by 2035.

An armed drone that can operate alongside crewed aircraft is generally called a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), often referred to as “loyal wingmen.”

At its stand at JA2024, MHI unveiled for the first time scale models of two types of CCAs equipped with AI. Both aircraft are currently still in the concept stage.

The first was a scale model of a drone shaped like a fighter jet. According to MHI, the model, about 1 meter long, was one-tenth the size of the real aircraft. The concept of this drone is to take off from land, attack the enemy, and then return to its base. It is designed to be used in different ways depending on operations, such as by equipping it with radar or installing missiles within the drone’s internal weapons bays.

The second model on display showed a combat support drone in the shape of a missile. The model was life-size, with a total length of just under 6 meters. This model has previously been featured in photos posted on social media sites such as X. As shown in the model, a camera is installed at the bottom front of the aircraft. This drone is a disposable type concept, just like an actual missile.

The “ARMDC-20X” written on the larger model is an abbreviation of Affordable Rapid Prototype Missile Drone Concept. The number 20 indicates the type, and the X means that the drone is still under development.

MHI cites four features of its own CCA concept: 1) use of advanced AI technology, 2) attritable (tolerance of attrition) with low cost, 3) compatibility with various missions, and 4) stealth design.

Tokyo is rushing to acquire “teaming” technology, in which crewed fighter aircraft and drones work together to carry out missions, with an air-to-air battle with China in mind. Japan would be at a disadvantage in terms of numbers in such a conflict. By having drones take on part of the fighter aircraft’s mission, it is possible to make up for the gap in combat power with a numerically superior opponent.

Drones are cheaper to produce and operate than crewed fighter aircraft, and have cost advantages. And by having drones accompany manned fighter aircraft and take on roles that have previously been played by manned aircraft, it is also possible to further increase the survivability of pilots.

MHI began research and development of AI-equipped drone technology in fiscal year 2022, a project ordered by ATLA.

Separately, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Subaru, and Japan Aircraft Supply also have won a bid for research and development of a CCA system and related elemental technology research.

Japanese companies are competing fiercely to research, develop, and operate autonomous combat support drones that can fight in cooperation with Japan’s planned next-generation fighter aircraft, which is a multitrillion-yen project.

In June 2023, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) led a successful three-hour sortie, demonstrating the first flight of its machine-learning trained, AI-equipped XQ-58A Valkyrie.