Japan To Decide This Year On Global Hawk Order

Japan is expected to decide by the end of the year whether to order four Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk surveillance aircraft that could later be upgraded to reinforce the country’s anti-ballistic missile defenses.

The decision, which has been brewing for years, is due to appear in the National Defense Program Guideline, which will set out future military policy when it appears this year, program officials say.

The Japanese military’s joint staff office is studying the possible order, reflecting its status as a national program. A force of four could provide a continuous patrol, even with one in deep maintenance.

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