Japan’s Defence Ministry plans to request a record 8.9 trillion yen ($56 billion) for fiscal 2027 as the country accelerates its military buildup in response to growing regional security challenges, according to reports on Saturday.
The proposed budget request is expected to be submitted to the Finance Ministry by the end of August and could increase further during negotiations later this year.
A senior government official said Japan’s overall defence spending could eventually reach around 10 trillion yen ($63 billion).
A significant portion of the proposed funding will focus on preparing the Self-Defence Forces for emerging forms of warfare, particularly the expanding role of drones and artificial intelligence in modern conflicts.
Planned investments include interceptor drones, AI-supported command-and-control systems, longer-range missiles and secure cloud infrastructure for handling classified information.
Japan also intends to expand development of advanced defensive technologies, including high-powered laser and microwave weapons, as Tokyo seeks to strengthen its capabilities against evolving security threats.