Pan-European Airbus and Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries at ILA Berlin 2026 airshow, which earlier in June was held in Germany, signed memorandum of understanding on exploring development possibilities for Japanese MALE (medium-altitude long-endurance) drone U950 Eurodrone version, whose main purpose should be anti-submarine warfare.
Hartpunkt reports this. After agreement conclusion, parties will begin negotiations discussing future project details, in which specific configuration Japanese variant should be built, which their components and products can be used in this drone, as well as work distribution questions including technical maintenance based on principle that in case of drone procurement country must receive capability to independently service drone.
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Defense Express notes two important moments worth highlighting in this news. First, potentially Eurodrone for Tokyo may become not only means of monitoring significant maritime areas but also, judging by anti-submarine warfare focus, one of means for destroying russian or Chinese submarines.
Second, Japan appears to strive for active participation in European projects outlining future combat aviation direction. Recall Tokyo already participates in GCAP (Tempest) program with Italy and Britain, whose main direction is sixth-generation fighter creation.
However, it does not proceed without problems, Japanese are dissatisfied with project implementation pace and want new fighter as soon as possible. By the way, after failure of French-German-Spanish FCAS project, GCAP program remains only sixth-generation aircraft creation project in Europe.
Returning to Eurodrone, in which Japan also became interested, worth acknowledging this program currently also proceeds not without problems, critical design review of this massive UAV was completed only after 10 years of development, while first flight was postponed first from 2024 to 2027, then to 2029.
Moreover, France, which together with Germany, Italy and Spain is program participant, determined Eurodrone is no longer interesting and country plans to focus on purely own developments. And Dassault Aviation again quarrels with Airbus demanding compensation for 13-ton Eurodrone.
Airbus recalled Japan has had observer status in Eurodrone project since 2023, and it will enable supplementing existing weapons list with effective unmanned platform and strengthening maritime security in sovereign and sustainable manner. Recall Eurodrone can carry up to 2.3 tons of weapons and remain airborne 40 hours.
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