Japan’s Defense Ministry plans to develop unmanned aerial vehicles that detect ballistic missiles sooner than existing systems, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun reports.
Japan relies on data from U.S. forces' early-warning satellites as well as ground radar and Aegis destroyers to detect missiles, but the technology only allows it to pick up on missiles that have reached a certain altitude. Japanese officials are looking to create a new generation of infrared sensor-equipped drones that can track ballistic missiles at lower altitudes, according to the report, which cites unnamed government sources.
The ministry plans to have a design for a prototype ready by the next fiscal year and introduce the UAVs for deployment in fiscal 2020, according to the report.
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