Japan weighs $500 billion defense spending plan, sources say
If adopted, defense buildup spending for the five years from April 2027 would be nearly twice that in the current five-year plan.
Japan is contemplating a substantial increase in defense spending, with sources suggesting a potential doubling of defense expenditures over the next five years, according to two individuals familiar with the matter. If approved, the defense buildup over April 2027 to April 2031 would amount to ¥70 trillion to ¥80 trillion ($457 billion to $508 billion), roughly 1.8 times the current allocation of about ¥43 trillion for a five-year period starting in fiscal 2023.
The final figure may still be adjusted as the government finalizes its budget and updates its security-related documents. The government has yet to comment on the proposed increase.
The proposed spending is anticipated to support the procurement of numerous drones, among other military equipment. A weaker yen has contributed to higher costs for defense contracts. Another source indicated that the final figure could fall within the mid-to-late ¥70 trillion range, but expressed uncertainty about whether the sum would be sufficient, given the volatile security situation in East Asia. The exact figure remains subject to debate between the government and coalition partners.
Under the existing defense buildup program, which was established towards the end of 2022, Japan significantly raised its defense spending from an initial allocation of ¥27.5 trillion. The focus was on developing long-range missiles capable of counterstrike operations, as well as ammunition and spare parts for military hardware.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
