Japan to conduct first artificial intelligence-driven unmanned aircraft flight in 2025.

As reported by Kosuke Takahashi on November 12, 2024, Japan's Defense Equipment Agency confirmed that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will conduct the maiden flight of an artificial intelligence (AI)-equipped unmanned test aircraft in November 2025. This announcement was made during the "2024 Defense Equipment Agency Technology Symposium" held in Tokyo. The AI-integrated aircraft, designated as a "Flying Test Bed" (FTB), is being developed to evaluate new aviation technologies under realistic flight conditions, providing critical data to refine AI implementation for unmanned aerial systems.
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The FTB’s design is highly modular, featuring a shared fuselage and engine with interchangeable wings and tail sections, allowing the aircraft to alternate between combat and reconnaissance configurations. (Picture source: ATLA)

Since fiscal year 2022, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has been engaged in a research and development project under a Defense Equipment Agency contract, focusing on demonstrating AI capabilities through the Flying Test Bed (FTB) platform and its control systems. The FTB’s design is highly modular, featuring a shared fuselage and engine with interchangeable wings and tail sections, allowing the aircraft to alternate between combat and reconnaissance configurations. This flexibility enables the FTB to support multiple mission profiles, facilitating a broad range of operational testing scenarios.

Each FTB variant measures over three meters in length. The combat model has a wingspan slightly exceeding two meters, while the reconnaissance model spans more than three meters. Both versions incorporate electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors, with the reconnaissance variant additionally outfitted with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for enhanced reconnaissance capabilities. According to Japan’s Defense Equipment Agency, the FTB project includes experimental flights that will demonstrate AI-directed flight, gathering data on how AI functions in real-world versus simulated environments. This data will allow developers to assess the effects of these conditions on AI performance and establish a standardized framework for flight control signal interfaces. The project also aims to create a database for analyzing performance differences among various AI configurations tested on the same FTB aircraft.

MHI is scheduled to conduct the initial flight in November 2025, with research and prototype phases concluding by March 2026. Following this, the Defense Equipment Agency will perform in-house testing, including flight trials, between fiscal years 2026 and 2027, aiming to refine system performance and validate operational capabilities.

The FTB development aligns with a broader Japan-U.S. research collaboration. In December 2023, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) launched a joint AI initiative to enhance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that will operate in tandem with Japan's future manned fighter jets. This project, called "Overwhelming Response through Collaborative Autonomy," seeks to enable UAVs to function autonomously alongside manned aircraft, improving coordination and operational adaptability. These UAVs, envisioned as "loyal wingmen," will be integrated with Japan's next-generation fighter fleet to expand mission capabilities.

Japan envisions deploying AI-equipped UAVs in combat support roles to accompany its next-generation fighter jet, a collaborative project with the UK and Italy under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). In October 2024, MHI revealed an early mock-up of an AI-driven combat support drone at the International Aerospace Exhibition. The concept highlights Japan’s commitment to integrating AI into support drones for tactical applications.

Japan’s next-generation fighter, part of GCAP, was showcased in a concept model presented at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 22, 2024. This model, developed jointly by BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and MHI (Japan), features a refined airframe with an enlarged wingspan to enhance aerodynamics. Engineers from each company employed digital tools, including computer modeling and virtual reality, to optimize the aircraft’s design during the concept phase.

This partnership aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2. GCAP’s development employs approximately 9,000 personnel and includes over 1,000 suppliers from the partner nations. GCAP’s formal development phase is set to begin in 2025, with an initial demonstrator flight anticipated by 2027 and production slated to commence by 2030. The fighter, expected to enter service by 2035, will incorporate advanced weapons systems, an interactive software-driven cockpit, integrated sensors, and next-generation radar.

Under GCAP’s equal partnership structure, each country contributes distinct expertise: BAE Systems oversees airframe development, Rolls-Royce manages the engines, Leonardo UK the electronics, and MBDA UK the weapons. MHI is Japan's lead contractor, with IHI Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric handling engines and electronics. Italy's Leonardo S.p.A. manages its contributions, including work by Avio Aero on engines and MBDA IT on missile systems. Potential GCAP partnerships with Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and Germany remain speculative, with Japan citing concerns about technology security regarding possible collaborations with Saudi Arabia.