The Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) revealed on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on 1 March 2024 that it is testing a ‘dog-like’ unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) in a surveillance/base security role. This is the first time the JASDF has introduced UGVs.
The system being trialled is the Vision 60 quadruped UGV (Q-UGV) developed by US company Ghost Robotics, of which the JASDF has procured three examples for JPY124.85 million (EUR 0.75 million). The import agent is S T Japan Co.
Meanwhile, the Japan Ground Self Defense (JGSDF) has also procured three Vision 60 Q-UGVs.
The Base Defence Development & Training Squadron (BDDTS) at Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki prefecture is currently studying how to utilise these ‘robotic dogs’. A year-long test period is scheduled and, if the system performs well, it will be introduced into service. The BDDTS was formed in 2011 as a unit under the direct control of the Air Defense Command and has a strength of about 40 personnel.
The Vision 60 weighs 51 kg and has a maximum speed of 3 m/s, a maximum range of 10 km, an endurance of three hours and a maximum payload of 10 kg. More than 450 Vision 60 systems have already been procured by security organisations across 25 countries.
