Japan¡¯s Kawasaki Heavy Industries has signed a preliminary agreement with Airbus to cooperate on a possible Japanese anti-submarine version of a European defense drone.

KHI inked a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to ¡°analyze opportunities¡± for the new variant of the U950 Eurodrone, Europe¡¯s first large long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system, the European aerospace firm said in a statement late Friday.?

Japan has held observer status in the Eurodrone program since 2023.