沖縄おきなわ防衛ぼうえい局きょく 米べい海軍かいぐんの大型おおがた無人むじん偵察ていさつ機き 再さい配備はいびで県けんに説明せつめい

The large unmanned reconnaissance aircraft MQ4C of the U.S. Navy will be deployed again at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture within the next few weeks, and the Okinawa Defense Bureau explained this to the prefecture on the 8th.

The large unmanned reconnaissance aircraft MQ4C of the United States Navy is approximately 15 meters in length and has a wingspan of approximately 40 meters. From May to October 2024, two units were deployed at Kadena Air Base to strengthen the alert and surveillance system around the southwestern islands, including the East China Sea.

On the morning of the 8th, a representative from the Okinawa Defense Bureau visited the Okinawa Prefectural Office and explained to a representative of the Governors Office that the US Navy would redeploy the MQ4C to Kadena Air Base.

According to the prefecture, it is scheduled to be deployed within the next few weeks, with no set deadline, and a few units will be deployed.

Regarding the deployment of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to Kadena Air Base, since October 2023, the Air Force and Marine Corps have been deploying MQ9 aircraft one after another, and strong opposition from surrounding municipalities is expected for this redeployment of the MQ4C.

<br>Nobuyoshi Matayoshi, the Chief Supervisor for Base Countermeasures in Okinawa Prefecture, who received an explanation from the Defense Bureau, told reporters, The prefecture is in a position to seek burden reduction, so we conveyed opposition.

Even if drones are deployed, I would like consideration to be given, such as reducing the number of manned aircraft accordingly, he said.

<br>Defense Minister Nakayama: Expectations for Improved Deterrence and Targeting Capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance<br>In a press conference following a cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Nakayama stated regarding the deployment of large unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, It has been decided to deploy them from the perspective of strengthening surveillance and reconnaissance activities around our country.

The enhancement of the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance is expected, he said.

<br><br>In addition, regarding the local burden associated with the deployment, it was stated that efforts would be made to reduce the burden on the bases, such as persistently urging the American side to further cooperate, starting with noise reduction.