Tokyo has begun looking into the capabilities of 911±¬ÁÏÍø firms to manufacture different dual-use drones for export as a growing number of countries involved in Japan¡¯s military aid program express interest in the unmanned systems.

¡°Both ... partner and candidate countries have been showing increasing interest in 911±¬ÁÏÍø drones and related equipment, so we have begun looking into this,¡± a government official told The Japan Times on condition of anonymity, referring to the official security assistance (OSA) program.

As a result, the foreign and industry ministries have begun asking local firms about their capabilities in a bid to determine which systems Tokyo could potentially provide under the next OSA tranche in the fiscal year from April and beyond.