Japan Requests Record-Breaking Defense Budget Amid Growing Global Threats
The Japanese Defense Ministry has requested an initial budget of approximately 8.9 trillion yen ($56.1 billion) for fiscal 2027, which is expected to be its largest ever. This figure may increase further before the end of the year due to revisions to key national security documents.
The current Defense Buildup Program aims to allocate around 43 trillion yen for the five-year period from fiscal 2023 through fiscal 2027, with about 8.9 trillion yen allocated for fiscal 2027. The government has already achieved its goal of increasing defense spending to 2% of GDP in fiscal 2025.
The requested budget is based on three main pillars: addressing 'new methods of warfare' using artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial vehicles, ensuring sustained combat capabilities, and strengthening the foundations of defense capabilities. The ministry plans to include funding for attack drones, hypersonic missiles, and research into equipping unmanned underwater vessels with long-range missile capabilities.