Japan may renege on its Global Hawk acquisition
Domestic media in Japan reported on 13 August that Tokyo is considering cancelling its purchase of the RQ-4B Block 30(I) Global Hawk.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) had sought to acquire three RQ-4Bs and to deploy them at Misawa Air Base in 2021. The JASDF also planned to establish a new unit with 70 personnel for the new platform.
However, the USAF’s 2021 budget proposal showed that the RQ-4 Blocks 20 and 30 would be retired. This means Japan and South Korea would be left as the only RQ-4 Block 30 users.
Japan’s MoD is therefore worried about rising
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