The Japanese Self-Defense Forces are incorporating drones into their units to gain an edge in future conflicts due to a changing security environment and declining troop numbers. The SDF is learning from the Ukraine war, where drones have been used effectively as force multipliers while minimizing human losses. According to Naoko Aoki, a Japan expert at the Rand Corp., the unprecedented scale of drone deployments in Ukraine has driven interest in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Japan.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/05/japan/japan-sdf-drones-focus/