TOKYO/TAIPEI ¨C The CEO of UFORCE, a Ukrainian producer ?of attack drones, flew to Tokyo in April with a pitch for Japanese officials and defense contractors: build thousands of our drones to defend yourself and allies.

Days earlier, U.S. troops had used waterborne UFORCE drones to sink a ship during a secretive exercise held where the South China Sea meets the Pacific. And for years, the firm¡¯s Magura surface vessel has helped turn parts of the Black Sea into no-go zones for the Russian navy.

While the maritime geography of East Asia is very different, ¡°the impact is extremely similar,¡± UFORCE CEO Oleg Rogynskyy said.

The details of UFORCE¡¯s meetings in Japan have not been previously reported. They¡¯re part of a larger push by Ukrainian drone companies?to tap a military-spending surge in Asia by U.S. allies eager to ward off an increasingly assertive China and deter a ?conflict over Taiwan, according to interviews with 20 people, including defense contractors and Ukrainian and Japanese government officials.

These defense contractors are seeking to capitalize on Ukraine¡¯s reputation as a master of drone warfare, which has helped an otherwise-outgunned Kyiv hold out for more ?than four ?years against Russia. Ukraine has also leveraged its expertise into diplomatic and defense deals in Europe and the Middle East, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in February that Kyiv was ¡°ready to open up ?our technologies¡± like sea drones to Japan.

Former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, who remains an influential lawmaker, said?he welcomed the Ukrainian efforts to cooperate. Tokyo needs equipment ¡°that is actually demonstrating effective power,¡± he said.

Ukrainian defense firms like UFORCE, Skyeton and General Cherry hope to find production partners in Japan, an industrial heavyweight that recently cast off long-standing restrictions on arms exports. The Japanese military has hosted at least one previously unreported demonstration of Ukrainian drone tech from Swarmer, the firm said. But discussions between ?other Japanese officials and Ukrainian firms were characterized as exploratory by three people involved in those talks.

A spokesperson for the Japanese?Defense Ministry declined to comment about its engagement with Ukrainian drone companies but said Tokyo was ¡°examining all possible options to ensure acquisition of equipment needed for Japan¡¯s ¡®new way of warfare.¡¯¡±

?Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has warned Tokyo could be dragged into a possible future conflict over Taiwan. China has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control and regularly holds military drills around the democratically-governed island.

Executives from three Ukrainian firms and a drone association said they were also exploring business with Taiwan, though they were cautious given that Kyiv has no formal diplomatic ties with the island, which China claims as ?its territory.

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