Global Hawk Reconnaissance Drone Missing Off Tottori

Sep 15, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - A Japan Air Self-Defense Force Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft went missing over international waters about 50 kilometers north of Tottori Prefecture on September 15, with floating debris and oil later found in the area where communications were lost.

According to the Air Self-Defense Force, contact with the large unmanned aircraft, which belongs to Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, was lost at around 1 p.m.

It is not yet known whether the aircraft crashed.

The Japan Coast Guard searched the surrounding waters and confirmed floating objects and oil on the surface. Authorities are investigating whether they are connected to the missing aircraft.

The Global Hawk is remotely operated from the ground and can fly unmanned for about 36 hours. It is used for warning and surveillance missions.

Each aircraft costs about 17 billion yen.

The Air Self-Defense Force operates three Global Hawks, and this is the first time one has gone missing.

Source: 日テレNEWS

Typhoon Nos. 28 and 29 Threaten Japan's Three-Day Weekend

Two typhoons moving across the Pacific are expected to bring high waves and strong winds to Japan's Ogasawara Islands during the three-day weekend from October 10 to 12, while swells from the east could also affect coastal areas along eastern Japan's Pacific coast, according to the latest forecast issued at 10 p.m. on October 8.

Cyberattacks Spread Across Japan

A series of cyberattacks has disrupted business operations and exposed millions of customer records across Japan, with a ransomware attack on a cloud service provider affecting 495 companies and local governments nationwide, while convenience store operator Lawson has disclosed a separate breach involving more than 2.15 million personal information records.

Japan's First 360-Degree Projection Mapping Opens in Osaka

Japan's first 360-degree projection mapping show will open at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts on October 10, transforming the historic building into an immersive world of light, music, and seasonal imagery, with organizers hoping the attraction will also help stimulate the city's nighttime economy.

Tokyo University Professor Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Tokyo University of Science professor emeritus Kenzo Soai has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with French chemist Henri B. Kagan for discoveries that transformed scientists' understanding of how chemical reactions can favor one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule.

US Military Halts All Okinawa Operations for 48 Hours

The US military suspended activities by all forces stationed in Okinawa for 48 hours from noon on October 7, an unusual measure following the arrest of a US Marine in connection with a robbery and murder case that has renewed scrutiny of crimes involving American service members.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Japan Unveils Advanced Shogei Submarine in Kobe

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force unveiled its latest submarine, the Shogei, at a launch ceremony in Kobe on October 8, featuring improved detection capabilities and quieter onboard systems following construction at a cost of approximately 80.5 billion yen.

US Military Halts All Okinawa Operations for 48 Hours

Food-Tax Cut Faces Fiscal Test In Diet

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi defended her plan to cut the consumption tax on food and provide support payments to workers in the House of Representatives on October 7, seeking to keep household relief at the center of her autumn Diet agenda while markets continue to test the government’s fiscal credibility.

Three Major Challenges Confront Takaichi Government

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has delivered her second policy speech since taking office, placing economic growth and investment at the center of her agenda as her government enters a critical period dominated by plans to cut the consumption tax on food, controversy surrounding Agriculture Minister Yanagi, and a packed diplomatic schedule in November.

Japan Demands Action After U.S. Marine Arrested for Murder

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has strongly condemned the arrest of a U.S. Marine on suspicion of robbery and murder at a hotel in Naha, Okinawa, describing the crime as "extremely brutal and vicious," while Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass to lodge a formal protest and demand measures to prevent similar incidents.

Time Names Kyoto Mayor Among 100 Emerging Global Leaders

Time magazine has named Shoko Kawata, the 36-year-old mayor of Yawata in Kyoto Prefecture, among its 100 most influential emerging figures worldwide, recognizing her decision to become Japan's first sitting mayor to take maternity leave and highlighting a political career that has taken her from municipal administration to national politics and the leadership of a city of nearly 70,000 people.

Japan Begins Talks on Free Childbirth

Japan has begun detailed discussions on a new system to make childbirth free of charge, with the government aiming to introduce nationwide coverage by June 2028 and the establishment of a uniform national price for deliveries emerging as the central issue.

Former SDF Officer Admits Chinese Embassy Intrusion

A former Ground Self-Defense Force officer accused of entering the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo with a kitchen knife and threatening diplomatic staff admitted to trespassing and violating Japan's weapons laws at his first court hearing on October 1, but disputed whether his statements constituted criminal threats.

< 2 3 4 5 >