On August 31, the Ministry of Defense requested a record 8.8908 trillion yen for the FY2027 budget. This marks the final year of the government's plan to allocate approximately 43 trillion yen in defense spending over five years (FY2023–2027) to fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities. Under the Sanae Takaichi administration, the goal of increasing defense spending to 2% of GDP by FY2027 was achieved ahead of schedule in FY2024.
Ministry of Defense Requests Record 8.89 Trillion Yen for FY2027 Budget, Accelerating AI Integration into JSDF Command and Control
This article is a translation. Read the Japanese original
The request includes policies to accelerate adaptation to "new ways of fighting," such as the introduction of AI into the Japan Self-Defense Forces' (JSDF) command and control and the acquisition of attack drones (unmanned aerial vehicles). To prepare for scenarios where combat becomes prolonged, the request also includes the creation of a system where defense equipment manufacturing plants are nationalized and their management is outsourced to private companies.
With the revision of the "three security documents," including the National Security Strategy, expected by the end of the year, many projects have been listed as "item requests" without specified budget amounts, and significant increases are anticipated.
Source: 自衛隊指揮統制にAI導入、ドローン取得加速 防衛省概算要求、過去最大8兆8900億円 (ITmedia AI+, 2026-09-01)