According to a PR published by General Atomics on August 15, 2024, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has finalized a deal to purchase two SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), with delivery scheduled for 2025.
The SeaGuardian drones have been instrumental in various JCG missions, including search and rescue operations, disaster response, and maritime surveillance. Notably, the aircraft were deployed following the 7.6 magnitude earthquake near the Noto Peninsula earlier this year and during the 2023 G-7 Summit in Hiroshima.
Equipped with advanced sensors and capable of flying for over 24 hours, the SeaGuardian offers enhanced maritime surveillance capabilities. GA-ASI has also integrated its Optix+ software suite into the system, providing real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data. This software facilitates the detection of unusual activities at sea by correlating data from multiple S/sources, ensuring a comprehensive operational picture for JCG operators.