The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) announced on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, that it has begun operations to recover a U.S.-made RQ-4B Global Hawk surveillance drone that crashed into the sea last month. A mother ship arrived at the site to deploy a remotely operated underwater vehicle intended to pinpoint the aircraft’s location and retrieve debris.
The long-distance surveillance aircraft went missing in mid-September after taking off from Misawa Air Base in Aomori prefecture. According to Japanese officials, the drone encountered communication difficulties approximately 90 minutes into its flight. Three minutes later, it disappeared from radar screens at a location roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) off the coast of Tottori prefecture.
JASDF Chief of Staff Takehiro Morita stated that the fuselage was recently spotted on the seabed at a depth of 200 to 300 meters (650 to 980 feet). The Japanese military is investigating the cause of the crash in coordination with the U.S. military and the drone’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. While the cause remains undetermined, officials noted there has been no indication of foul play.
The RQ-4B Global Hawk has a reported price tag of approximately 17 billion yen ($107 million) per unit. The loss of one aircraft reduces Japan’s fleet of these specific long-distance drones to two remaining in service.
The two remaining Global Hawks have been grounded except for necessary missions, Morita said. These uncrewed aircraft are capable of flying for up to 36 hours at altitudes of 60,000 feet, providing observation of neighboring regions, including North Korea and China.
Japan has been revising defense strategies to place greater emphasis on drones, artificial intelligence, and new methods of warfare. The recovery of smaller debris began on Oct. 2, with the salvage of larger components expected to take place later in October 2026.