Work to raise a sunken Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter is expected to begin shortly now that a salvage ship has arrived in the area where its apparent wreckage was found.

The helicopter, carrying a crew of 10, dropped off radar near the island of Miyakojima, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 6. Five of the missing crewmembers have since been confirmed dead.

What is thought to be its damaged fuselage and possible parts of a cockpit seat and tail wing have been found reportedly separated from each other. They were on the seabed at a depth of 106 meters, near where the bodies were located.

The GSDF has commissioned the recovery of the wreckage to a private salvage firm.

The firm's salvage vessel had arrived at the waters by Friday morning.

An unmanned probe equipped with a robotic arm for deep-sea operations was confirmed on the deck. What appears to be large-size netting was also seen at the stern of the ship.

The GSDF plans to examine the fuselage and the flight recorder after they are recovered in order to identify the cause of the accident.

SDF search crews are working to retrieve a body spotted last week. It is thought to be that of one of the crewmembers on the helicopter. They are also continuing their efforts to find the remaining four.