The Japanese cabinet has approved the purchase of six V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicles as part of the defense budget proposal for fiscal 2025.
An amount of 4 billion yen ($25 million) has been allocated for the purchase to enhance the surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s surface vessels.
The Shield AI vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones will be deployed on the service’s patrol vessels planned for acquisition, according to The Diplomat.
Meanwhile, Tokyo approved 8.7 trillion yen ($55.1 billion) in defense spending for the next fiscal year on Friday, a rise of 9.4 percent, or $4.8 billion, compared to the current fiscal year.
It marks record high defense spending for 11 years in a row as Tokyo continues its defense buildup against expanding Chinese military capability.