Airbus and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the idea of a Eurodrone improvement centered on the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime patrol function.
The 2 corporations will now start work on deciding the mandatory modifications to the prevailing U950 Eurodrone design, together with concerns of required sensor and payload packages for lengthy vary ASW and different maritime missions. Conceptually tailor-made for Japan’s defence wants, Japan itself has but to put a agency order for such an plane however has held an official companion standing on the broader Eurodrone program since November 2023.
At #ILA24, we’re showcasing a 1:1 mock up of our #Eurodrone. It can guarantee operational superiority to the companion nations, particularly within the context of Intelligence, Surveillance, Goal Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. It is going to be a key pillar inside the Future… pic.twitter.com/CNQIm5C8dV
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) June 6, 2024
Eurodrone is a twin-engine medium altitude, lengthy endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial automobile (UAV) designed to fulfil the same function to the U.S. made MQ-9 Reaper. In comparison with the Reaper, the Eurodrone is 5-6 metres bigger in each size and wingspan, and contains a most takeoff weight over twice that of the MQ-9. Eurodrone’s first flight is presently scheduled for 2029.
Germany is at present the lead buyer with 21 plane on order, adopted by Italy with 15 orders, then France and Spain with 12 every. The 4 nations are collaborating on the plane’s improvement via lead contractor Airbus and producers Leonardo and Dassault. France, regardless of criticism of this system and a change in funding plans, has confirmed that it nonetheless intends to proceed with its procurement of the sort.
France stays dedicated to Eurodrone however may delay acquisition, @AirbusDefence official says. “We had and nonetheless have 4 nations on this programme,” Jean-Brice Dumont mentioned at ILA Berlin air present. pic.twitter.com/498xowd1n1
— Craig Hoyle (@FlightAcesHigh) June 17, 2026
With a deliberate endurance of as much as 40 hours, the Eurodrone can be ideally suited to lengthy missions over water offering persistent ASW and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) protection, augmenting crewed platforms.
Japan, with its direct entry to huge swathes of the Pacific Ocean and proximity to China’s ever-expanding submarine drive, is a key focus of this improvement. The nation already operates dozens of Kawasaki P-1 and Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol plane, and is now starting to start use of RQ-4B International Hawks for lengthy vary ISR.
Whereas the International Hawk is greater than able to offering parts of a maritime patrol functionality, it lacks any type of ASW functionality or the power to hold weapons. In the meantime, the envisioned maritime variant of the Eurodrone is deliberate to have the ability to utilise sonobuoys and torpedoes, very similar to current developments of the MQ-9.
Notably, Kawasaki’s press launch mentions that the MoU may also embrace exploration of how the Eurodrone may very well be partnered operationally with the P-1 maritime patrol plane, hinting at manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities.
Maritime Missions
Eurodrone’s twin engine configuration, a requirement stipulated by Germany for security over city areas, has been maligned for including weight and complexity to the plane. Nonetheless, for this use case, the added reliability over platforms just like the MQ-9 may show to be an enormous profit.
Airbus & Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed a MoU on notional improvement of a Japanese adaption for the Eurodrone. The thought focuses on fielding an ASW platform considerably like MQ-9B. Eurodrone might enchantment resulting from its twin engine, excessive payload design.
— Alex Luck (@AlexLuck9) June 26, 2026
Though drones are thought of extra expendable than crewed plane, the price of their loss – significantly when geared up with extra ISR tools and/or weapon masses – can nonetheless deal a blow to a drive’s total functionality. That is very true when the misplaced plane usually are not in a position to get replaced in a well timed trend, because the U.S. Air Power found following the lack of round 20% of your entire fleet throughout Operation Epic Fury. The MQ-9 has been described because the ‘most respected participant’ within the U.S. warfare effort, regardless of typically being written off as too weak for contemporary high-intensity conflicts.
U.S. Air Power MQ-9 Reaper drones have been the “most respected participant” in Operation Epic Fury in opposition to Iran, Chief of Employees Gen. Ken Wilsbach mentioned at this time. The U.S. has performed “many, many strikes” with the Reaper in opposition to Iran, Wilsbach mentioned. “No different platform is even near…
— Chris Gordon (@ByChrisGordon) Might 21, 2026
The complexities of ASW imply that crewed plane are virtually sure to be a main part for a few years to return, however getting access to uncrewed plane to help with ASW taskings would reduce the workload of every ASW plane and permit a higher space to be screened for submarine threats. An identical evolution is occurring on and below the water, with costly submarines and ASW frigates now envisioned to easily be the tip of a wider spear that encompasses a wide range of automated and remotely managed capabilities.
