Between April and May 2026, Japan transferred two types of anti-drone interceptors the Terra A1 and Terra A2, to Ukraine for testing, as confirmed in publicly available statements referencing official data from Japanese defense company Terra Drone.
The testing appears to have gone well. Japan is now discussing the deployment of its own UAV interceptor network to defend against long-range kamikaze drones such as the Shahed.
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As Defense News reports, Japan's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) has announced the launch of projects intended to accelerate the deployment of a domestic drone interceptor network.
Under current plans, anti-drone UAVs are to be deployed in Japan by 2027, providing coverage for radar stations, military bases, naval vessels, and other high-value assets. The drones must be simple enough that operator training requires minimal time, with just two personnel sufficient for deployment.
A specific requirement has been set that only anti-drone UAVs that have undergone testing in other countries may be deployed in Japan, a detail that is particularly notable given that Japan took the opportunity to field-test its interceptors in Ukraine.
The Terra A1, a multirotor-type anti-drone UAV, has the following publicly stated specifications: a flight range of up to 18 km, endurance of up to 15 minutes, and a top speed of up to 300 km/h. According to Terra Drone, these drones were tested in Chernihiv Oblast.
The Terra A2, by contrast, is a fixed-wing jet-powered interceptor with a top speed of up to 312 km/h, a range of up to 75 km, and an endurance of 40 minutes. According to Terra Drone, the Terra A2 was tested in Kharkiv Oblast.
In Japan's case, the Shahed-type drone threat is entirely relevant. China operates not only YJ-18 missiles but also Sunflower 200 drones, a copy of the Shahed-136, capable of striking Pearl Harbor and even the western United States.
It is also worth noting that Japan's Self-Defense Forces operate over one hundred domestically produced equivalents of the Gepard anti-aircraft gun system, designated Type 87, with an effective engagement range of up to 4,000 metres.
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