US, Japan conduct joint nighttime drone drill in Kagoshima Pref.

Troops from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps have conducted a drill on nighttime intelligence collection using a drone system on a remote island in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

The exercise was held from Monday night through Tuesday on Tokunoshima Island. About 9,600 personnel are taking part in the exercise aimed at coordinating maneuvers for the defense of Japan's remote islands. Japanese personnel launched a ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle from its launch pad, after exchanging views with their US counterparts.