無人機が次期戦闘機を支援　ＡＩで自律飛行、検討加速へ―防衛省

　防衛省は１１日、航空自衛隊Ｆ２戦闘機の後継となる次期戦闘機を支援する無人機を開発する方針を固めた。２０２２年度予算概算要求に関連経費を盛り込み、人工知能（ＡＩ）による無人機の自律飛行技術の実現に向けた検討を加速させる。次期戦闘機と同様に３５年ごろの運用開始を目指す。
　支援のための運用方法としては、次期戦闘機と離れた空域を飛行しながら、(1)敵戦闘機・ミサイルの早期探知(2)ミサイル発射(3)電子攻撃―を行うことや、敵ミサイルの「おとり」となることなどが想定される。無人機は撃墜されても人的損害がないため危険な空域を飛行しやすい利点がある。（2021/08/11-17:20）

Japan's Defense Ministry plans to develop artificial intelligence-equipped unmanned aircraft that will support the operations of the successor to the Air Self-Defense Force's F-2 fighter jets, informed sources said Wednesday.
   The ministry will seek related funds under the government's fiscal 2022 budget, aiming to speed up discussions on establishing AI-driven autonomous flight technology for the unmanned aircraft, the sources said. It hopes to put the unmanned aircraft into practical use around 2035, timed to coincide with the introduction of the next-generation fighter jet model.
   The unmanned aircraft will support the fighter jets while flying away from them. Specifically, the ministry expects that the aircraft will be used to detect enemy fighters and missiles early, launch missiles, conduct electronic attacks and act as a decoy for enemy missiles.
   Unmanned planes can be deployed to dangerous airspace because there will be no human damage even if they are shot down.
   The ministry has already established a technology to allow unmanned aircraft to take off and land automatically, and to communicate with the ground. But autonomous flight requires far more advanced AI technology.