Japan weighs buying Ukrainian combat drones after battlefield success against Russia

The Japanese government is studying the possibility of integrating Ukrainian UAVs into its defense arsenal. Ukraine has significantly advanced its drone manufacturing technologies, drawing heavily on battlefield experience.

Tokyo will make a final decision after comparing the capabilities of Ukrainian drones with similar systems from other countries, including Israel. However, because of the situation surrounding the Gaza Strip, Japanese authorities are leaning toward supporting Ukrainian designs, sources said.

Officials from Japan’s Defense Ministry said Ukrainian drones demonstrate strong resistance to electronic warfare and have long operational range.

In addition to the possibility of direct purchases, Japan also hopes to obtain the technology needed to produce the drones domestically, Japanese media reported.

On March 12, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources, that Saudi Arabia’s oil company Saudi Aramco was negotiating with at least two Ukrainian companies to purchase interceptor drones to protect oil fields from potential Iranian attacks.

According to the sources, Saudi Aramco is moving quickly to acquire the drones — potentially ahead of the Saudi government and regional competitors, particularly Qatar. Sources said Aramco representatives are currently negotiating with Ukrainian companies SkyFall and Wild Hornets.

However, the Ukrainian interceptor drone manufacturer Wild Hornets later denied reports that it was negotiating with Gulf states to supply its products.

On March 10, the Kyiv Independent reported, citing a source in Ukraine’s defense industry, that a Saudi company was preparing a deal to purchase Ukrainian interceptor drones.

According to the source, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine are negotiating a large weapons supply agreement that could be finalized as early as this week. Other sources told the outlet that large-scale contracts between the governments of the two countries are under discussion.

One source told the outlet that a “major agreement” between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia had been expected on March 11.