Japan has decided to phase out its attack helicopters in favor of modern unmanned systems. By around 2032, the Japan Self-Defense Forces are expected to establish a dedicated unit of multi-role unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). According to “Defence Blog” , under the defense budget for fiscal year 2026, Japan has allocated approximately $69.7 million for the purchase of five wide-area UAVs for the Ground Self-Defense Force. This marks the first concrete step in the gradual retirement of AH-64D