Itsunori Onodera
Japanese LDP lawmaker and former defence minister who chairs the party's tax commission.
Itsunori Onodera described Japan's purchase of Ukrainian SkyFall interceptor drones as a trial on 1 October 2026; eight days later Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the ministry had already concluded an acquisition contract.
Last refreshed: 26 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Was Japan's SkyFall interceptor buy a trial or a contract?
Timeline for Itsunori Onodera
Mentioned in: Japan signs to buy SkyFall interceptors
Drones: Industry & DefenceBackground
Itsunori Onodera said on 1 October 2026 that Japan's purchase of Ukrainian SkyFall interceptor drones was a trial. Eight days later Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the ministry had already concluded an acquisition contract and was working towards early delivery.
Onodera served twice as Japan's defence minister, from December 2012 to September 2014 and from August 2017 to October 2018. A Liberal Democratic Party member for Miyagi's 5th district, elected ten times, he chaired the party's Policy Research Council from September 2024 to October 2025 and now chairs its Research Commission on the Tax System.
The ministry has not disclosed the model, quantity or price of the SkyFall order, and SkyFall was not among the four interceptors its procurement agency tested over the summer.
Who is Itsunori Onodera?
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Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 26 October 2026. Editorial standards.