US deploys first advanced drones to Japan

The unarmed Global Hawk aircraft were deployed to Japan over the past week from their home base on the Pacific island of Guam. They are expected to enhance the U.S. military’s ability to monitor nuclear activities in North Korea and Chinese naval operations, and to assess natural disasters to assist humanitarian aid operations.

The deployment to Japan, a key U.S. ally, is intended to further demonstrate Washington’s commitment to security in Asia as part of its rebalancing of forces to the Pacific.

The repositioning of the drones will likely rankle with China and North Korea, which have been working to improve their own unmanned aircraft fleets.