The Japanese cabinet has approved a defense budget proposal that exceeds 9,000 billion yen for the first time in history, equivalent to about 58 billion USD. The Japanese Ministry of Defense called this an unprecedented spending level, aiming to accelerate the transition of defense capabilities in the context of increasing security challenges after World War II.
According to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, this budget is considered the minimum necessary for Japan to fulfill its defense obligations. The spending is the fourth year in the five-year plan with a total scale of about 43,000 billion yen, and is associated with the goal of raising defense spending to 2% of GDP two years earlier than the original plan. An additional budget approved by the parliament also helps the total expenditure exceed 2%.
The proposal spends about 100 billion Yen on building a multi-layered coastal defense system, integrated in the air, at sea and on land, with the core role of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The project, called the SHIELD system, is expected to be deployed by the end of the 2027 fiscal year and emphasizes the use of a large number of low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance and attack missions. The Ministry of National Defense believes that the adjustment reduced compared to the initial proposed level will not affect overall effectiveness.
Japan also plans to increase its long-range counter-attacking capabilities with nearly 1,000 billion yen for weapons of attack beyond the opponent's range, including the longer-range Type 12 anti-ship missile and hypersonic missile programs. These capabilities are emphasized by Tokyo as deterrent, especially in protecting the southwestern region and Okinawa Prefecture.
Japanese defense officials assessed the unmanned device as a game-changer, especially in the context of the Japanese Defense Forces facing population decline and difficulties in military recruitment. Total spending on drones this year is expected to exceed 277 billion yen, aiming for a target of about 1,000 billion Yen for procurement and research and development by 2027.
The main driver of the budget increase is China's growing military activity around Japan's airspace and waters, along with pressure from US President Donald Trump's demand for increased defense spending. Tokyo said the new budget clearly demonstrates national determination in the face of regional security challenges.
