Ministry of Defense records record-high 8,890.8 billion yen in budget request for fiscal year 2027

On the 31st, the Ministry of Defense announced the budget request for fiscal year 2027. The total amount is 8.8908 trillion yen, the largest ever. The plan focuses on responding to ``new ways of fighting'' that make full use of artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned aerial vehicles, and also includes organizational changes such as the creation of a new agency to support retired Self-Defense Force personnel and their families. Many of the requests do not indicate monetary amounts, and the total amount is likely to increase further at the year-end budgeting stage.

The requested amount is based on the current defense capability development plan, which sets defense spending for the five-year period from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2027 at approximately 43 trillion yen. The government plans to revise three security-related documents this year, and fiscal 2027 will be the first year of the new plan. For this reason, projects that are affected by the content of revision discussions are made into requirements.

In preparation for new ways of fighting, AI will be introduced to the Joint Operations Command to support the quick decision-making of Self-Defense Force commanders. We are promoting domestic development while speeding up the installation by utilizing existing overseas systems. As a foundation for the use of AI, the government called for the introduction of a ``highly confidential sovereign cloud'' that would manage highly confidential information domestically.

Utilizing private-sector technology, the project will begin the development of an unmanned aircraft that can be mass-produced inexpensively and in a short period of time and has the ability to fly over long distances. We will also proceed with the development of underwater-launched hypersonic guided missiles to strengthen stand-off defense capabilities that allow us to deal with enemies from outside of their range.

Regarding organizational restructuring, it is specified that a new 110-person ``Retired Self-Defense Forces Personnel and Family Support Agency'' (tentative name) will be established to centrally handle career support for retired Self-Defense Forces personnel. It also includes the creation of three new departments within the Ministry of Defense: the International Policy Bureau, the Defense Infrastructure Bureau, and the Facilities Policy Bureau (all tentative names).