The Ministry of Defense of Japan is developing a new manned stealth fighter, but at the same time they are also planning a Royal Wingman-type unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) that will be combined with this. There are still high technical hurdles in the development of artificial intelligence capable of fully automatic autonomous combat, so it is a semi-autonomous drone that forms a team with rough instructions from a manned fighter. (Royal Wingman means "faithful wingman")
Preliminary project evaluation "Study on the functional performance and operational effects of self-improving combat support drones (PDF) )” describes the development plan for future Royal Wingman type drones. At the end of the book, you can see the operation concept of what the Air Self-Defense Force wants drones to do in "Image of future air combat with unmanned aircraft".
Drone advances ahead of allied manned fighters to detect enemy aircraft (threat aircraft) and launch anti-aircraft missiles.
"Defensive anti-air operations" refers to interception battles conducted in and around one's own country. The explanation is that it is not an offensive air superiority battle that takes place over enemy territory.
Because it will be a drone for air-to-air combat that not only detects but also attacks, it is envisioned to be a drone large enough to carry an air-to-air missile.
The unmanned aircraft advances ahead of the manned fighter and drops bombs on enemy vehicles (threat ground forces). It is expected to be equipped with bombs and missiles capable of ground attack.
"Close air support" refers to the action of support bombing from the air while friendly ground forces are engaged with enemy ground forces. The green vehicle "ground forces" in front of the enemy's "threat ground forces" painted red are allies, and this image is a political appeal that it is not an enemy base attack but a ground battle in Japan. You can see it from the picture. Although it is across the sea, it is assumed that it is a remote island.
However, due to the drone's capabilities, it will be possible to operate across the sea in enemy territory. Of course, this is also possible with conventional manned fighters.
The unmanned aircraft advances ahead of the manned fighters, detects enemy ships (threat ships), and informs the allied manned fighters behind them. Attack with missiles. In other words, the drone does not attack directly and concentrates on detection.
"Air interdiction" is a term used by the Ministry of Defense of Japan, and mainly means anti-ship attacks at sea. Originally, it was a term for air attacks aimed at the rear of the enemy's logistics on the ground, and the Ministry of Defense of Japan sometimes uses it in that sense, but the meaning here is anti-ship attack.
Unlike anti-aircraft and anti-ground attacks, anti-ship attacks are not carried out, because the assumed drones do not have a payload to carry anti-ship missiles, and it can be expected that they are not of that size. increase.
If it is about the size of an anti-tank missile that can attack small boats, it may be possible to install it, but it is not expected to be equipped with a full-fledged anti-ship missile that can attack large ships.
However, the image of the project evaluation in advance is only a rough operational concept, so it may not be exactly like this in the future after repeated consideration.