富士通与General Atomics签署MOU，拟在日本承担MQ-9B无人机维护

TOKYO -- Fujitsu has signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. drone maker General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the maintenance of surveillance drones in Japan, the tech group announced Thursday.
Under the agreement, the companies will consider Fujitsu for work including providing systems for servicing and parts management. This comes against the backdrop of plans by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) to begin operating drones in fiscal 2027.
The deal envisions Fujitsu eventually maintaining and managing electronic parts, including sensors and radar components, for the drone maker's MQ-9B surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.
Japan is working to bolster maritime surveillance capabilities with an eye to the security of its extensive exclusive economic zone. Drones used for such purposes spend long, continuous stretches of time in the air, requiring domestic maintenance systems.
Fujitsu has over a decade of experience maintaining and servicing the patrol aircraft used by the MSDF, and plans to further enhance its systems for such work throughout fiscal 2027 to prepare for further future technical collaboration with General Atomics.
The Japanese company's ongoing expansion of its defense business also includes collaboration with major U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin on dual-use technologies with both civilian and defense applications. Fujitsu also provides material management systems for the MSDF.