New Delhi: Japan September 5 announced plans for its biggest defence budget in history, with a planned $57 billion investment in military capabilities. The reason for the increase isn’t hard to find: “The international community is facing the greatest post-war trial yet, and has entered a new era of crisis,” is the opening sentence of the document outlining the budget request.
The budgetary ascent of Japan began under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 12 years ago, and has rapidly accelerated in the face of China’s aggressive actions regarding Taiwan and the East and South China Seas. The budget marks the second year that Japan has made significant budget increases — this one is 7.4 per cent larger than last year’s — as part of a broad effort to strengthen and reorient its military to boasting greater offensive capabilities.
In a major new strategy released in December 2022, Japan committed to doubling its defence spending, deploying an aircraft carrier for the first time since World War II, buying hundreds of long-range cruise missiles and fielding other weapons fundamentally transform it from a strictly defensive military to one that can effectively deter and defeat threats.
In line with that goal, the new budget proposes funding seven main areas of effort:
“Stand-off defence capabilities,” especially precision long-range weapons. The request is for $5.1 billion. Almost half of that, $2.2 billion, is for a small satellite constellation to provide tracking and targeting for this burgeoning counterstrike capability.
“Comprehensive air and missile defence capabilities” to counter North Korean, Russian and Chinese missiles and other threats. The request is for $1.7 billion.
“Unmanned asset defence capabilities,” requested at $850 million.
“Cross-domain operational capabilities” in space, cyber and EW. While the budget documents don’t provide an easy total for this section, the biggest item under electronic warfare are $344 million for an RC-2 signals intelligence aircraft plus $100 million for its avionics and related items. The budget also includes $97 million for development of an EW aircraft.
“Command and control and intelligence-related functions,” requested at $4.4 billion.
“Manoeuvring and deployment capability” to help turn Japan into a power projection military. The request is for $3.9 billion.
“Sustainability and resiliency.” The request includes $6.4 billion for ammunition, including 155mm shells, as well as roughly
In addition to those broad categories, the defence force plans to request $871 million to buy eight more Lockheed Martin F-35As and $423 million for three more F-35Bs.
In an effort to be more efficient and allow its navy to function better as a power projection and combat force, the budget includes the most extensive reorganisation of the surface fleet, to be executed by March 2026.
As part of that reorganisation, the current Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s Fleet Escort and Mine Warfare forces will become known as the Fleet Surface Force. The goal is to create centralised command and supervision of all surface vessel units, a navy spokesman said.
