东京——日本空军表示，他们已于周五开始打捞上个月坠入海中的这架美国制造的远程侦察无人机。随着日本在国防规划中越来越重视无人机的使用，此次打捞行动显得尤为重要。
MARI YAMAGUCHI TOKYO — Japan’s air force said it began recovery operations Friday for a U.S.-made long-distance surveillance drone that had crashed into the sea last month, as the country puts greater emphasis on drones in its defense planning.
这架名为“Global Hawk”的无人驾驶RQ-4B无人机于9月中旬在日本西北部鸟取县北部海域失踪。日本自卫队确认该无人机已经坠毁，并在海底约200至300米（650至980英尺）深处发现了疑似其机身的残骸。
The uncrewed RQ-4B aircraft, known as Global Hawk, went missing off the northern coast of Tottori prefecture in northwestern Japan in mid-September. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force said it has determined that the drone had crashed and later spotted what appeared to be the fuselage on the seabed about 200-300 meters (650-980 feet) deep.
这架无人机是日本空军拥有的三架“Global Hawk”无人机之一。该无人机具备在60,000英尺（18公里）的高度执行远程任务的能力，且可连续飞行长达36小时，因此能够监视包括朝鲜和中国在内的亚洲大陆地区。
The aircraft was one of three Global Hawks in Japan’s air force. Capable of conducting long-range missions at a height of 60,000 feet (18 kilometers) and operating continuously for up to 36 hours, they allow Japan to monitor areas on the Asian mainland, including North Korea and China.
日本空军仅公布了有限的调查信息。日本自卫队参谋长森田武弘本周早些时候向记者表示，日本国防部门正在与无人机制造商诺斯罗普·格鲁曼公司以及美国军方密切合作开展调查。
The air force has released limited details. JASDF Chief of Staff Takehiro Morita told reporters earlier this week that Japanese defense officials were working closely with its maker, Northrop Grumman, and the U.S. military in the investigation.
目前尚未发现任何人为破坏的迹象，官方表示事故原因仍在调查中。
There has been no indication of foul play and officials said the cause of the crash was under investigation.
根据日本自卫队的说法，周五的打捞工作始于一艘专门用于部署水下无人机的母船的抵达；这艘母船利用该水下机器人确定了无人机的确切位置并收集了其他相关数据，同时打捞了部分残骸。预计较大的飞机部件将在10月下旬被打捞上来。
Friday’s work began with the arrival of a mother ship that deployed a remotely operated underwater vehicle to obtain the drone’s exact location and other details, while also recovering debris, JASDF said. Salvaging larger parts of the aircraft is expected later in October.
日本官员称，该无人机在从驻扎地米沙瓦空军基地起飞约90分钟后，出现了与通信设备失去联系的情况；三分钟后，它便从雷达上消失了，最后一次被观测到时位于鸟取县海岸外50公里（31英里）处。
Japanese officials have said the drone had trouble connecting with a communication device about 90 minutes after taking off from the Misawa Air Base, where it was based. Three minutes later, it disappeared from the radar and was last seen 50 kilometers (31 miles) off the coast of Tottori.
这架价值约170亿日元（1.07亿美元）的无人机丢失，可能会对日本的监视能力造成打击。据森田表示，目前仅剩的两架“Global Hawk”无人机在执行必要任务时才能被使用，其余时间都被迫停飞。
The loss of the drone with a price tag of about 17 billion yen ($107 million) could be a setback for Japan’s surveillance capability. The two remaining Global Hawks have been grounded except for necessary mission, Morita said.
日本一直在修订其国防战略，这些战略重点关注无人机、人工智能以及新的作战方式。
Japan has been revising defense strategies that focus on drones, artificial intelligence and new methods of warfare.