Japan Signs Contract for Ukraine's SkyFall Interceptor Drones

Japan has entered into a contract with Ukrainian drone manufacturer SkyFall to purchase interceptor drones, according to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Koizumi announced the contract during a press conference in Tokyo on Friday, stating that the ministry is working to secure early delivery of the drones. SkyFall, a Ukrainian technology and defense company, is recognized for producing drones such as the Vampire strike drone, Shrike FPV drones, and P1-SUN interceptors.

The specific details of the contract, including its value, the number of drones, the model, or the delivery date, were not disclosed in the transcript. Koizumi's remarks came in response to a reporter's query about Japan's plans to introduce Ukrainian-made drones. The former Defense Minister Onodera and others had visited Ukraine at the end of last month, where they announced that Tokyo would experimentally introduce the drones.

Koizumi emphasized that the Ministry of Defense's acquisition of interceptor drones is part of a broader effort to learn from Ukraine's battlefield experience. He highlighted Ukraine's significant experience in new ways of fighting and their rapid pace of improving combat capability. Koizumi stated that Japan aims to foster the defense industry and industrial base by learning from Ukraine's quick feedback cycle, where new drones with enhanced capabilities are produced every two to three weeks.

He added that Japan recognizes the need for deterrence and response capabilities and will carefully consider the matter, examining specific examples. Separately, Koizumi clarified that Tokyo is not contemplating transferring weapons, including Patriot missiles that Japan manufactures under license, to Ukraine under the Self-Defense Forces law.

He mentioned that the ministry has already supplied Self-Defense Forces vehicles, bulletproof vests, and has accepted wounded Ukrainian soldiers, and that they will continue to provide any equipment they can.