MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - The Japanese Defense Ministry and the US Navy are planning to jointly develop a 10-meter-long unmanned fuel-cell powered submarine, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported Friday.
According to the unnamed sources in the Japanese Defense Ministry cited by Yomiuri Shimbun, the move comes as China is modernizing its Navy.
The jointly designed submarine will be used for warning and surveillance activities and will be able to remain underwater for up to 30 days. The project will cost the Japanese Defense Ministry 2.6 billion yen ($25 million) over the next five years.
This is the second international submarine project Japan has announced this summer. In June, Japan signed a defense cooperation agreement with Australia, allowing the two countries to jointly develop submarine technologies.
