Japan's Coast Guard Tests Unmanned Aircraft
Japan's Coast Guard has started testing an unmanned aircraft on Thursday to learn whether it can carry out key duties, including search and rescue and maritime surveillance.
US defense firm General Atomics developed the 12-meter-long drone, called the SeaGuardian. It has a wingspan of 24 meters.
The drone can reportedly fly nonstop for over 24 hours. It can cover the furthest reaches of Japan's exclusive economic zone in a single flight.
The coast guard is checking the safety of the aircraft, and whether it can send real-time images and data to ground stations from its high-definition cameras and radar.
The aircraft will be based at the Maritime Self-Defense Force's base in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan.
