Aircraft maker pushing export of spy drones to Japan, other Asian countries

A respectful and honest attitude, not learning to be thieves, is more legitimate and necessary to build a stronger relationship with Japan's neighbors. Don't go there and complicate it any further.

“it’s a capability the U.S. wants them to have.”

Bugger raising tensions around the world when there is huge profit to be made from these things... the US is responsible for 70% of the worlds arms production and trade so of course it 'wants people to have them'...its about the only growth industry the US has nowadays

nylex, Actually the US is responsible for about 40% of world arms trade. It is, however, by far the largest seller of arms with about $24 billion while number two (Russia) landed only $10 billion and number three (UK) with $9.8 billion. (According to Congressional Research Service).

But your point is well-taken: Profit before Peace.

sorry, thats what i meant - the largest seller of arms ...

This article's title is somewhat slanted, as you get some sense of as you read through the text - while major US drone manufacturers would no doubt love to increase their sales, I can tell you that more pressure is being exerted by these governemtns to get the US to allow them to buy these drones - they're all on bended knee pleading......

I'n no fan of the military industrial complex, but in this case, the US is not pushing, these other contries are pulling......

So big brother is really watching us now, from 65,000 feet...

sorry, thats what i meant - the largest seller of arms

Anyone can make statistics fit their agenda. So let's tallk about which is the bigger threat to world peace? Taiwan buying a few dozen VERY expensive US made F16's or the entire 3rd world being supplied with millions of small arms, grenades, mines, ad naseum?

...its about the only growth industry the US has nowadays

And yet, the USA still leads the world in GDP..

Japan may not use but should buy (neighbors won't mind) since poor countries in Asia also buying. e.g. India, Pakistan.....!

Another waste of taxes on something Japan does not need.

Spying. That is quite popular here already and there are millions of drones too.

scary concept Patroling coastlines & shipping lanes. Very dangerous ! Someone will say an invited claim, "Why not use it for civilian applications like spying on citizens ?" Spy drones will be used for highways & city streets. Police will use it to track criminals and etc. Also spy on tax paying & law abiding citizens. Japan shouldn't use it. The boarder of japan is very close to NK and other nations.

The only thing I worry about, is drones being armed with chem, bio, dirty bombs and nuke devices. Very dangerous !!! It's a scary world out there.

Spying. That is quite popular here already and there are millions of drones too.

I guess there can by a lot of spies here, but what you say about drones, "millions" is a lot of number, I mean too much, don't you think?

And yet, the USA still leads the world in GDP

and what makes up 50% of the US governments budget?...spending on weapons and the military to expand 'demokracy' to the rest of the world...

Why is JT carrying a story like this? - Sure, the USA will sell to anyone and hope they will get further orders, But the USA will only offer this - IF they have something better (and they do) and remember, "The more you stir feces, the more it stinks!

This is the ultimate tool for the slave state = we must imprison the middle class by buying this junk and raising taxes to support the entitled.

This is a great idea and I am behind this because I know that my tax is well used. Imagine; you could use the drones here in Japan to prevent crime. I see them flying already over Hanaten, Osaka to spy on those criminal kids who dare to sit outside the station in front of a 7/11. These young hopeless teenagers are proned to become misfits. The drone could check if they ride a bicycle with a mate on the back, even worse, they might drink alcohol and then ride. With the high resolution camera on board everything will be exposed. I even suggest machine guns loaded with rubber bullets to get rid of those homeless bastards who live unrightfully on the streets. What did I say ? Rubber bullets ? Live ammo, that´s the solution of the not existing problem. The next step of course must be that private organizations and companies can purchase such drones. How beautiful, flying over Matsushita Kodama, having the software of the already existing RF chips in the employees company tags, could be shot while having a cigarette outside the warehouse. I know what you all think of me, but believe me or not, I know for sure that there are some people who really light up one WITHOUT HAVING THE PERMISSION.

said Takehiko Yamamoto, a professor of international relations at >Tokyo’s Waseda University. “China, Russia and others would perceive it >as a potentially offensive capability. For Japan, I think it is a bad >idea.”

And why is it a bad idea for Japan? Like South Korea, the only reason Japan would want this capability is North Korea. I really don't think China or Russia would be all that concerned about it. In fact the Chinese would probably love it if Japan flew one over China that crashed so that in 8 months they could market a cheaper copy.

Why is JT carrying a story like this?

The newspaper has explicitly stated on their about sections that any information on new products and services are relevant to readers. But back to the topic, I don't see any reasons why disaster-prone Asian countries should be prevented from acquiring these unmanned drones. It all sounds practical granted they can afford it of course.

China already has one, and has taken it apart and figured it out. That is why the US is willing to sell it to any Asian country who wants one and is a "friend" of the US.

It's only a radio controlled airplane with a digicam installed. What is really there for China to "figure it all out"?

Yeah, I can see the SDF getting five of those, and five F35. YuriOtani can fill out the shopping list. Actually, the only thing SDF needs from the RQ-4 Global Hawk is not the hardware, but the securing of the signal frequencies from satellites - Japan has superior electronics.

Correction:

"manufactured electronics..."

sorry, thats what i meant - the largest seller of arms ...

No not really, they may be the largest in terms of revenue but in terms of total number of weapons sold they are not the largest seller of arms by a long shot considering the number one weapon that kills people is a rifle.

and what makes up 50% of the US governments budget?...spending on weapons and the military to expand 'demokracy' to the rest of the world...

Social security and medicare/medicaid. Half of the US military budget anyways is to be pay for benefits of current and retired officers/soldiers which have to be paid by law. The US military budget isn't anywhere near being close 50% of the US governments budget.

"The US military budget isn't anywhere near being close 50% of the US governments budget."

The US Military is probably much higher than publicly stated - ref: former Prof. Chalmers Johnson's Trilogy (GAO has not corrected his figures). This does involve "black budget" or a second economy. One obvious cost - over 700 overseas bases, where each one would cost on the average ???? (one Billion USD?? and the oil to drive the hardware). Major costs are not clearly defined.

Amazing planes that save lives and wipe out the taliban successfully.

30Million US$ sounds expensive how about the cost of predator?