Airbus, KHI sign MoU to develop Eurodrone for Japan

Kawaksaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and Airbus aim to develop a specialised, anti-submarine warfare variant of the 950 Eurodrone MALE UAV for Japan. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Airbus and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the U950 Eurodrone medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) programme.

Under the MoU, both companies will assess opportunities to develop an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant of the RPAS for Japan, Airbus said on 26 June. According to KHI, the MoU will also explore operational concepts, including manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) with the Kawasaki P-1 manned maritime patrol aircraft.

As a next step, Airbus and KHI will begin discussions to “develop options for the design, development, and commercialisation for a future Japanese maritime version of Eurodrone”.

The discussions will include the “definition of possible configurations, integration of Japanese sensors and effectors, and other potential workshare for Japanese industry during production and sustainment”, Airbus said.

According to the company, these processes aim to ensure that “Japan can operate the Eurodrone sovereignly and without restrictions, should the country decide to acquire the RPAS”.

The Eurodrone, scheduled to conduct its first flight in 2029, is being developed by a four-nation consortium with Germany, France, Italy and Spain, led by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). Japan has held observer status in the Eurodrone programme since 2023, renewing its participation on 10 June 2026, according to OCCAR.

As a multirole platform, the RPAS is being developed to cover a range of missions, from airborne intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) to early warning and signals intelligence (SIGINT), as well as maritime patrol, according to Airbus.