Japan to beef up its defense with drones, AI and missiles, defense budget plans show
Japan plans to bolster its defense capabilities by incorporating drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and new military methods, as outlined in an 8.9 trillion yen ($55.6 billion) budget request for the coming fiscal year, revealed by the Defense Ministry on Monday. The budget represents a slight increase from the 8.8 trillion yen ($55 billion) request for the current fiscal year.
Japan intends to enhance its Self-Defense Forces' offensive capabilities in response to China's increasing assertiveness, aligning with its five-year defense strategy established in 2022, which aims to double defense spending to roughly 2% of its GDP.
To achieve this, Japan plans to develop and mass-produce low-cost unmanned weapons, including attack drones, long-range cruise missiles, and interceptors, to minimize costs, reduce casualties, and create a more cost-effective air defense network. The ministry seeks to acquire unmanned attack drones for launch underwater or from above, potentially compensating for the decreasing number of military personnel as Japan's population ages and shrinks.
The Defense Ministry plans to introduce an integrated AI platform to improve decision-making speed and accuracy, incorporating foreign AI technologies such as those from the U.S. while also developing domestically-developed AI or combining them. Additionally, the ministry aims to create a next-generation platform, an "AI orchestrator," which would integrate and utilize multiple AI systems while ensuring autonomous selection and operation.
Japan is constructing a "Defense Ministry cloud" for highly sensitive data transmission and stable communications networks during emergencies or disasters. The ministry did not specify the anticipated costs for these measures. To support the defense industry, Japan plans to establish a state-owned, contractor-operated system to guarantee stable defense equipment production and supplies, mitigating the risk of shortages caused by suppliers withdrawing.
This initiative also includes funding for companies' defense-related research, development, and restructuring to bolster production and efficiency.
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