Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said his country is doubling down on anti-drone capability development efforts after a video analysis showed that a drone was used to capture footage of Japan’s defense-related activities and facilities.
The footage, posted on a Chinese social media platform over a month ago, showed upgrades being made on the helicopter carrier JS Izumo at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Yokosuka naval base, where drone flights are prohibited.
While Kihara did not say how the unmanned aerial vehicle operated over the facility undetected due to security reasons, he highlighted the need to boost countermeasures against drones, citing the threats UAVs pose to defense facilities and national security.
According to the defense minister, such countermeasures could include jamming capabilities.
Drone flights over key public and diplomatic areas and nuclear power facilities have been restricted since a small unmanned aircraft system with traces of radiation was found atop the Japanese prime minister’s office in 2015, Defense News reported.
