A screenshot (extracted image) from a video apparently captured by a drone flying over the Maritime Self-Defense Force Yokosuka Base. It shows the moored light aircraft carrier JS Izumo.
On May 9, the Ministry of Defense addressed video footage which shows aerial footage allegedly captured by a drone. It is of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer JS Izumo. The ministry (MoD) also announced that the footage, which circulated widely on social media, is "very likely real."
Initially, the ministry suggested it was probably fake. Considering the potential severity of a drone attack, the MoD emphasized that it is taking the incident "extremely seriously." It also indicated that it is committed to implementing all necessary security measures.
Analysis
Approximately 20 seconds long, the video shows a drone approaching from above the JS Izumo. At the time, the ship was berthed at the MSDF Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture. From the stern of the ship's deck, the drone recorded footage as it approached the bow.
In its investigation, the ministry compared the vessel in the video with the actual Izumo. Its investigative team also checked the ship's number written on the destroyer's deck and verified its surrounding environment.
The findings suggested a strong likelihood that an unauthorized drone was indeed used to capture footage of the Izumo. According to the ministry, the drone has not caused any confirmed damage.
The MoD said the footage was originally uploaded to a Chinese video-sharing website on March 26. However, it was later deleted. Nevertheless, on March 29 the video of the destroyer resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter). Ministry officials declined to comment on the videographer's identity or the purpose behind the filming.
Under the Drone Act, flying drones above the base at altitudes exceeding 300 meters without prior MSDF authorization is strictly prohibited. MSDF personnel also maintain ongoing surveillance of the area.
The JS Izumo is the largest destroyer in the MSDF fleet. It is currently undergoing conversion into a de facto aircraft carrier capable of accommodating the latest F-35B stealth fighter jets.
Impact on National Defense
In a May 10 news conference, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said the ministry is taking the incident "extremely seriously." Kihara also stated, "This could seriously impact our national defense." He stressed his resolve to take all possible measures to ensure the security of Self-Defense Force facilities.
During an earlier press conference on April 2, Kihara discussed the video's possible fabrication following its social media circulation. At the time he highlighted that the ministry has prioritized efforts to prevent manipulation of public opinion and decision-making processes. MoD has intensified these efforts, particularly in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Therefore, the ministry says it prioritized cautious information analysis. "This included the possibility that the online aerial drone footage was manipulated with malicious intent," Kihara explained.
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(Read the related article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
