Japan’s pursuit of a deeper role in Europe’s flagship drone programme could add one of Asia’s most advanced manufacturing bases to a project aimed at giving European militaries a home-grown alternative to US-made aircraft.Japan’s potential participation, likely to be on the agenda when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets Group of Seven leaders in France from Monday, also reflects a broader effort by Tokyo and its European partners to reduce reliance on established defence suppliers as security concerns mount in both the Indo-Pacific and Europe.Analysts said Japan and the nations involved in the Eurodrone project – France, Germany, Italy and Spain – were “natural partners” that could combine technological strengths and develop an alternative supply chain for military equipment.Petra Sigmund, the German ambassador to Japan, expressed confidence that Japan would take part in the development of the drone as the next step in defence cooperation.00:57Japan tests humanoid robots to work as airport baggage handlers, cleaners“We have reached out to Japanese partners to see whether Japan would be willing to join this important project, and we see great interest,” Sigmund told Jiji Press on Sunday.