By Song Bo
宋波
Japanese media quoted data released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense earlier this year as showing that from April to December 2022, the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) carried out a total of 612 fighter scrambles, with takeoff frequencies and costs ever increasing. Recently, it was reported that the JSDF is considering sending drones to intercept foreign aircraft approaching its airspace instead of manned jets.
日本媒体援引日本防卫省今年初公布的数据显示，2022年4月至12月，日本自卫队战机紧急升空612次，起飞频率和成本不断增加。近日有报道称，日本自卫队正在考虑派遣无人机取代有人驾驶的喷气式飞机拦截接近其领空的外国飞机。
Shao Yongling, a military observer, believes that Japan has set up oversized air defense identification zones (ADIZs) under the banner of "security anxiety", but its existing air defense capabilities are unable to address its so-called airspace security issues. The mainstay fighter jet of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) is the F-15, with an estimated only about 100 currently. However, Japan has designated wide-ranging ADIZs, which have expanded the scope of its patrols. This makes both Japanese aircraft and pilots struggling to cope with a state of frequent takeoff and landing.
军事观察员邵永灵认为，日本打着“安全焦虑”的旗号，划设了范围过大的防空识别区，而现有防空能力却无法应对其“领空安全问题”。日本航空自卫队主流战机是F-15，目前估计只有100架左右，而日本却划定了大范围的防空识别区，巡逻警戒的范围随之扩大。这使得日本的飞机和飞行员都会陷入频繁起降，疲于应付的状态。
Regarding Japan's idea of using drones to intercept foreign warplanes, Shao Yongling believes that there is a significant gap between drones and manned warplanes in terms of speed, altitude, and carrying weapons. In terms of the current level of technology, it is not possible for drones to effectively intercept manned warplanes. On the one hand, the top speed of a drone is four or five hundred kilometers per hour, but the speed of the fighter jet is generally above Mach 1. On the other hand, the practical flight height of drones cannot be too high, such as the offensive strike UAV MQ-9 Reaper, which has a ceiling of about 15,000 meters, but the practical flight height of fighter jets is above 20,000 meters. Finally, coupled with the fact that drones carry very few weapons, mainstay drones at present are incapable of intercepting fighter jets, and may only be used for surveillance.
对于日本想用无人机拦截外国战机的设想，邵永灵认为，无人机在速度、高度、携带武器方面跟有人战斗机差距太大，就现阶段无人机的技术水平而言，还无法实现对有人战斗机的有效拦截。一方面，无人机速度再快，也就是每小时四五百公里，但是战斗机速度一般都在1马赫以上。另一方面，无人机的实用升限不会太高，比如“死神”无人机，升限约15000米，但是战斗机的实用升限都在2万米以上。最后，加上无人机携带的武器很少，所以目前来看，主流无人机无法拦截战斗机，如果仅是监视，可能还有一定的可行性。
Recently, an American MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed in the Black Sea. The US and Russia have traded accusations and blamed each other for the cause of the crash. Given this incident, Shao Yongling believes that Japan's idea of intercepting foreign warplanes with drones may have ulterior motives.
近日，美国“死神”无人机在黑海坠落。对于坠机原因，美俄各执一词、互相指责。结合这一事件，邵永灵分析认为，日本用无人机拦截外国战机的设想可能是别有用心。
Compared to manned fighters, drones feature relatively small in size and have relatively few restrictions in use. Furthermore, they even have the opportunity to enter or even penetrate the airspace of other countries. In addition, there are many reasons to justify the "cross-border" behavior of drones. After all, drones rely on the remote control or autonomous flight. Regarding the US drone's crash in the Black Sea, it is easy for us to imagine that if there is any chance for the US to send a manned warplane to a place so close to Russia.
相较有人战机，无人机目标小，在使用上忌惮相对少，有机会进入、甚至深入他国领空，而且无人机一旦出现“越界”行为，可以找很多理由开脱，毕竟无人机靠的是远程控制或者自主飞行。对于美国“死神”无人机在黑海坠毁一事，可以简单设想，美国是否可能派遣有人战机前往距离俄罗斯如此近的地方？
Therefore, drones do bring some new tactical applications. Compared to manned fighters, you can be more daring in applying drones. Even if there are some "cross-border" behaviors, it is difficult to clearly distinguish the liabilities. Therefore, we cannot but help say that Japan's application of drones to intercept foreign warplanes must have ulterior motives.
所以，无人机确实会带来一些新的战术运用，相比有人战机，无人机在使用上更加大胆，即便有一些“越界”行为，也很难进行清晰的责任划分。因此，日本意图使用无人机拦截外国战机，这一设想很难说不是别有用心。
Editor's note: Originally published on military.cnr.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
