Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) had invited the media to Hachinohe Air Base to see the General Atomics MQ-9B SeaGuardian it has been leasing.
The JMSDF selected the MQ-9B for the Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) RPAS Trial Operation Project in March this year.
The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) started operating a SeaGuardian from Hachinohe in October last year.