Gather information! The United States wants to build a "drone chain" in the Western Pacific
In order to strengthen intelligence collection, a US military MQ-4C large drone flew to the Kadena base in Okinawa. So far, the base has deployed two large drones, the "Global Hawk" and the "Reaper".
The U.S. military deploys two MQ-4C "Mermaid Poseidon" drones in Okinawa
On the afternoon of the 9th local time, a US military MQ-4C "Mermaid Poseidon" large drone flew to the Kadena base in Okinawa. At this point, the US military has completed its plan to deploy two drones of the same model at the base.
The United States simultaneously deploys two large drones in Okinawa
The MQ-4C is a high-altitude, long-flight unmanned reconnaissance aircraft with a maximum flight altitude of 17,000 meters and can fly continuously for 24 hours. Previously, the US military stationed in Japan deployed 8 MQ-9 Reaper drones at Kadena Air Base starting in October 2023, further highlighting the strategic position of the base.
Japan reveals facilities inside Self-Defense Forces Global Hawk base
Since 2022, the United States has also delivered three Global Hawk drones to Japan, all of which are currently deployed at Misawa Base in Aomori Prefecture in northeastern Japan, and operated by the Self-Defense Force's first drone unit, the Air Self-Defense Force's direct reconnaissance aviation team.
The wingspan of the Global Hawk is about three times that of an ordinary fighter jet. With its extra-long wings, the Global Hawk can fly at an altitude nearly twice that of a passenger plane for about 36 hours, and its reconnaissance range is much larger than that of traditional reconnaissance aircraft.
U.S. companies cooperate with the Self-Defense Forces, and U.S. personnel participate in the entire maintenance process of the aircraft
The entire take-off, flight and landing process of the drone is completed remotely by the operator. Before each mission, the flight path of the "Global Hawk" has been entered in advance. After completing all preparations, the operator only needs to click "taxi" and "execute" with the mouse, and the "Global Hawk" body will begin to move toward the runway. According to reports, whether it is the daily operation of the Global Hawk or the maintenance of the airframe, US personnel are closely involved and participate in the entire process.
Drones have become an important platform for intelligence cooperation between the United States and its allies
It is worth noting that the US military has also deployed MQ-9 drones in the Philippines for the first time since this year. Some analysts pointed out that the United States is currently strengthening intelligence sharing and exchanges through bilateral and small multilateral mechanisms such as the US-Japan and US-Japan-Philippines, and drones have become an important equipment platform for the United States and its allies to carry out intelligence cooperation.
New Media of China Central Television's Mandarin Global Program Center
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