The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's fleet of Bell AH-1S Huey Cobras is scheduled to be replaced by unmanned combat aerial vehicles by 2027. This photo of JGSDF AH-1Ss and a Hughes OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter was taken in 2014 in the United States. (US Army/PFC Brianne Patterson)

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo has said it is planning to invest JPY1 trillion (USD7.1 billion) over the next five years to replace some manned units in the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) with unmanned systems. The funding will support the “early deployment of multiple unmanned assets”, a Japan MoD spokesperson told Janes .

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's fleet of Bell AH-1S Huey Cobras is scheduled to be replaced by unmanned combat aerial vehicles by 2027. This photo of JGSDF AH-1Ss and a Hughes OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter was taken in 2014 in the United States. (US Army/PFC Brianne Patterson)

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo has said it is planning to invest JPY1 trillion (USD7.1 billion) over the next five years to replace some manned units in the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) with unmanned systems. The funding will support the “early deployment of multiple unmanned assets”, a Japan MoD spokesperson told Janes .

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's fleet of Bell AH-1S Huey Cobras is scheduled to be replaced by unmanned combat aerial vehicles by 2027. This photo of JGSDF AH-1Ss and a Hughes OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter was taken in 2014 in the United States. (US Army/PFC Brianne Patterson)

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo has said it is planning to invest JPY1 trillion (USD7.1 billion) over the next five years to replace some manned units in the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) with unmanned systems. The funding will support the “early deployment of multiple unmanned assets”, a Japan MoD spokesperson told Janes .

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's fleet of Bell AH-1S Huey Cobras is scheduled to be replaced by unmanned combat aerial vehicles by 2027. This photo of JGSDF AH-1Ss and a Hughes OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter was taken in 2014 in the United States. (US Army/PFC Brianne Patterson)

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo has said it is planning to invest JPY1 trillion (USD7.1 billion) over the next five years to replace some manned units in the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) with unmanned systems. The funding will support the “early deployment of multiple unmanned assets”, a Japan MoD spokesperson told Janes .

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's fleet of Bell AH-1S Huey Cobras is scheduled to be replaced by unmanned combat aerial vehicles by 2027. This photo of JGSDF AH-1Ss and a Hughes OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter was taken in 2014 in the United States. (US Army/PFC Brianne Patterson)

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo has said it is planning to invest JPY1 trillion (USD7.1 billion) over the next five years to replace some manned units in the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) with unmanned systems. The funding will support the “early deployment of multiple unmanned assets”, a Japan MoD spokesperson told Janes .

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's fleet of Bell AH-1S Huey Cobras is scheduled to be replaced by unmanned combat aerial vehicles by 2027. This photo of JGSDF AH-1Ss and a Hughes OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter was taken in 2014 in the United States. (US Army/PFC Brianne Patterson)

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo has said it is planning to invest JPY1 trillion (USD7.1 billion) over the next five years to replace some manned units in the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) with unmanned systems. The funding will support the “early deployment of multiple unmanned assets”, a Japan MoD spokesperson told Janes .