Japan’s draft defense budget for fiscal 2026 has soared to a record ¥9.04 trillion (about $58 billion), local media reported this week. 🚀
This figure surpasses last year’s initial ¥8.7 trillion for fiscal 2025 and aligns with Tokyo’s ambitious plan to invest roughly ¥43 trillion in defense between 2023 and 2027. 💰
Key highlights:
- 🛡️ Shield Coastal Defense System: ¥100.1 billion set aside for aerial, surface, and underwater assets.
- 🛩️ Long-Endurance Drones: ¥1.1 billion earmarked to explore high-altitude drone patrols against airspace intrusions.
On December 16, 2025, lawmakers approved an ¥18.3 trillion supplementary budget for fiscal 2025, including ¥1.7 trillion for security and diplomacy. This push helps Japan hit its 2% of GDP defense-spending target two years early. 📈
For decades, Japan capped its defense budget at about 1% of GDP (roughly ¥5 trillion), reflecting its postwar pacifist stance. But in 2022, the government set a goal to gradually raise defense spending to 2% of GDP by fiscal 2027. With these moves, Japan is stepping up its security measures amid shifting regional dynamics. 🌏
Stay tuned for more updates on how this will shape Japan’s defense and tech landscape!
Reference(s):
Japan's defense budget tops record 9 trillion yen for fiscal 2026
cgtn.com
