Japan’s Ministry of Defence has requested a record ¥8.9 trillion ($55.6 billion) budget for the next fiscal year, as Tokyo seeks to harness artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and accelerate decision-making amid an increasingly tense security environment.
The Ministry of Defence aims to prepare for “new forms of warfare”, with a particular focus on the use of AI, drones and long-range missiles.
As part of the budget request, the ministry plans to establish an AI-powered decision-support system designed to enhance the speed and effectiveness of defence-related decision-making.
It also intends to procure low-cost drones capable of operating in coordination with long-range missiles to neutralise adversaries’ capabilities and military equipment.
The ministry said it also plans to develop a hypersonic missile system capable of being launched from underwater, as well as establish a new unit to strengthen Japan’s defences against “cognitive warfare” — an emerging threat aimed at influencing public opinion through disinformation campaigns and other operations.
The budget requests for the fiscal year beginning in April 2027 highlight Japan’s latest efforts to strengthen its military capabilities in response to a volatile geopolitical environment, as the country gradually moves away from its traditional pacifist approach, under which the use of force was limited to self-defence.
China’s rapid military expansion, coupled with North Korea’s continued development of missile and nuclear weapons capabilities, has prompted Japan to strengthen its defences.
The war in Ukraine has also heightened concerns among Japanese policymakers over the possibility of a similar conflict erupting in East Asia, amid growing Chinese pressure on Taiwan and escalating regional disputes involving Tokyo.
