Japan set to deploy drone fighter planes from 2004

[dArKeR]

Japan's Defense Agency plans next year to develop small, unmanned spy planes similar to those used by the United States in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, a major newspaper reported yesterday.

The agency will budget about 9 billion yen (US$78 million) over five years, and hopes to deploy its fleet of aircraft as early as 2009, the national Asahi newspaper said.

Agency officials, who point to the U.S. military's lead in relying on high-tech advancements, are also considering spending to link Japanese fighter jets to a U.S.-developed satellite-guided bombing system beginning next year, the daily said.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/Asia/2003/09/21/1064114431.htm