The US Air Force will relocate a squadron of RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drones from Guam to Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, beginning this summer, Japanese Defense Ministry officials confirmed Friday.
This marks the first time that the high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft will be permanently stationed at a base in Japan. The move is intended to bolster US surveillance and intelligence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region amid heightened regional tensions.
Officials said the deployment underscores Washington's commitment to the security of Japan and its allies, and will support reconnaissance operations over the South China Sea and East China Sea. The Global Hawk can fly at altitudes exceeding 18,000 meters for up to 34 hours continuously, providing long-range surveillance and intelligence gathering.
The deployment is expected to be completed within the coming months, with close coordination between the US and Japanese governments on logistics and security procedures.
