Members of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force charge into the fight during a training assault for Orient Shield 2018. (Joshua Syberg/U.S. Army)
TOKYO — Japan’s Ministry of Defense asked for a record-high 8.5 trillion yen — about $58.7 billion — on Friday for fiscal 2025, the third year of a planned military buildup.
The ministry also unveiled details of its budget request, which, if approved, will be the 13th consecutive year of increased military spending and will exceed this fiscal year’s $54.5 billion budget. Japan’s fiscal year begins April 1.
To achieve its buildup goals by fiscal 2027, the government “will steadily increase the expenditure budget request, while accumulating projects that should be started during FY 2025,” the budget document states.
Japan in 2022 embarked on a plan to increase its defense capabilities in five years, aiming to strengthen its deterrence capabilities in a regional security environment made uncertain by an assertive China.
Since then, Japan has drastically increased its defense budget, pledging to spend about $297 billion through 2027.
The fiscal 2025 budget request includes about $6.7 billion to continue strengthening Japan’s stand-off defense capability. Past purchases in this category included U.S.-made extended range stand-off missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
“We will drastically strengthen our stand-off defense capabilities to deal with ships and landing forces advancing to our island region from outside the threat zone of anti-aircraft missiles,” budget request stated.
Among the items in that category is about $2.2 billion to build a satellite constellation for target detection and tracking capabilities. The system is budgeted this year for the first time; the ministry hopes to start operating it by March 2027.
The ministry has budgeted another $712 million for unmanned defense capabilities, which it calls a “revolutionary game changer” that can provide asymmetric advantages in the air, on the water and under the sea.
The ministry requested about $20.7 million to acquire small, offensive unmanned aerial vehicles for security in the southwestern islands, a strategically important area for Japan.
It also requested about $58 million for equipment designed to defend against drones and improve base security. That request follows a May incident in which drone footage of a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force flattop, the JS Izumo, at Yokosuka Naval Base appeared on a Chinese social media site.
The budget request also stated that the Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operation Group will be upgraded into a wing, which will focus on space domain surveillance and countermeasures under the command of a general.
