The country’s defence ministry made a request for a new military budget worth 8.8 trillion yen ($59.9 billion). It surpasses the world’s fourth-largest economy’s previous record of 8.7 trillion yen, secured for this fiscal year ending in March 2026
In a bid to respond to a “severely intensifying security environment”, the Japanese government is planning to expand its drone arsenal as part of another record spending request made on Friday.
Japan has been moving away from its pacifist stance in recent years and aiming to obtain “counterstrike” capabilities by doubling its military spending to two per cent of GDP.
The country’s defence ministry made a request for a new military budget worth 8.8 trillion yen ($59.9 billion), according to a report by AFP. It surpasses the world’s fourth-largest economy’s previous record of 8.7 trillion yen, secured for this fiscal year ending in March 2026.
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Special emphasis on drones
The ministry has earmarked spending on various types of unmanned vehicles in its budget request worth 313 billion yen.
Under the plan unveiled Friday, Tokyo is eyeing the use of drones to strengthen a planned coastal defence system it dubs “SHIELD”.
In the worst-case scenario where Japan’s long-distance “standoff” missiles are bypassed