Japan to develop unmanned surface vessels to counter Chinese maritime activity

Japan announced plans to launch research and development of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for its Coast Guard, aiming to enhance surveillance of Chinese ships in surrounding waters. The funding will be included in the fiscal‑year 2027 budget (April 1 2027 – March 31 2028) and the vessels are expected to enter service from 2032. The program will integrate USVs with patrol ships and drones, addressing a growing personnel shortfall in the Japan Coast Guard, which is short by over 600 staff members.

The initiative will be reflected in three security strategy documents slated for revision by December, including the National Security Strategy. Japan’s move mirrors similar unmanned‑system efforts by South Korea, but the primary focus is to monitor Chinese naval and coast‑guard activity that is expanding from the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands toward Taiwan’s vicinity.