Japan mulls joining Latvia-Led Ukraine Drone Coalition.

Oct 2025 : Japan is reviewing an invitation from Latvia to join a group of nations sending drones and technology to Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said Tokyo has been asked to participate in the “Ukraine Drone Coalition”, which Riga launched in February to supply drones, spare parts, and technical know-how. “Twenty countries have already joined the drone coalition, and Japan has also been invited to join”, she told the Media.

Defence Minister General Nakatani confirmed the request last September, saying it followed a meeting between the foreign ministers of the Asia-Pacific nation and the NATO member. “Under our basic policy of providing as much support as possible to Ukraine, we will continue to study this”, Nakatani reiterated. He noted that Japan cannot send lethal weapons under its constitution, limiting any role to areas such as surveillance and reconnaissance.

The Drone Coalition, in which most members from Europe, along with Australia and New Zealand, has already pledged 1.8 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in support. If Tokyo signs on, it would be the first country from East Asia to join. The initiative gives members battlefield lessons in how unmanned aerial systems are used in combat, a chance many see as crucial for strengthening their own industries.

“Our shared task is to rapidly absorb the lessons learned from Ukraine, to test, produce and innovate”, Braze said, adding that Japan could also contribute to non-lethal areas such as detection and electronic warfare. Additionally, access to that knowledge could help build defences as China rapidly expands its drone programs.

Industry analysts estimate that drones account for most casualties on both sides in Ukraine and are central to artillery and air strikes. Russia has ramped up drone production during the war, while North Korea has sent troops to support Moscow. Beyond combat, Braze said Russia is also targeting Western countries with disinformation.  “Russia is investing great resources in an attempt to destabilise our societies, undermine public trust in our democratic institutions and interfere in our domestic political affairs through the information space”, Braze has said.

Latvia, which borders Russia and hosts NATO’s Strategic Communications Center of Excellence, has positioned itself as a leader in countering online propaganda. Braze said this is an area where Latvia and Japan could positively share expertise. Japan has already adjusted its rules in 2022 to allow limited defence exports after Russia’s invasion. Since then, it has supplied non-lethal aid such as helmets, vests, and small unmanned aerial systems.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has reaffirmed that it will receive Swedish-made Gripen combat aircraft to reinforce its airspace security amid the Russian invasion, First Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Ivan Havrylyuk has stated. Havrylyuk said the jets are part of future deliveries but declined to provide details on timing or numbers, according to reporters. “You will see them in the sky when they arrive”, he told the reporters. When pressed if this meant Gripen as well as F-16s, he replied the reporters had named the correct list.

Sweden first offered Gripen in 2023, along with pilot training. Kyiv initially declined the proposal in 2024, focusing instead on its F-16 program, but discussions resumed later that year. Sweden operates just under 100 Gripen and plans to expand to 120 in the next five years, combining older C/D versions with the newer Gripen E.

The Gripen Aircraft –

Built by Stockholm-based aerospace firm Saab, the lightweight supersonic jet is valued for its agility in close-range air combat. The platform’s latest configuration, the E/F, measures up to 16 metres (52 feet) in length, has a wingspan of 9 metres (30 metres), and carries two operators.

It has a maximum fuel capacity of 4,535 litres, a payload capacity of 7,200 kilograms (15,873 pounds), and is equipped with active electronically scanned array radar, an infrared tracking system, electronic warfare suite, jammer pod, and light air-launched decoy missiles.

The airframe is fitted with a General Electric F414 afterburning turbofan engine for a top speed of Mach 2 (2,470 kilometres / 1,535 miles per hour), range of 2,200 nautical miles (4,074 kilometres / 2,532 miles), and altitude of 16,000 metres (52,493 feet).

In combat, the plane can deploy a 27-millimeter gas-operated internal revolver cannon, Meteor active radar-guided missiles, IRIS-T short-range infrared homing missiles, AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, Guided Bomb Units, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles, and Robotsystem fire-and-forget anti-ship missiles.

Team Maverick