Japan's Military Asks for Eighth Consecutive Budget Increase, Seeking to Counter Regional Threats with More Equipment

Japan’s military has asked for an eighth straight annual increase in defence spending to help pay for US-made interceptor missiles, stealth fighters, and other equipment it wants to counter threats from North Korea and China.

The Ministry of Defence budget proposal released on Friday calls for spending to increase 1.2 per cent to a record 5.32 trillion yen (US$50.48 billion) in the year starting April 1. Finance ministry officials will scrutinise the request before it is approved by cabinet.

If approved, the defence budget will grow for the eighth year in a row under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Already one of the world’s biggest military spenders despite a constitution that forbids the possession of weapons to attack other countries, Japan has increased military outlays by a tenth over the past seven years. That growth is being driven by alarm over military build ups by its neighbours.

Japan’s spending, much of it on advanced weapons from the United States, has benefited the likes of Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co, and worried local contractors such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries who have seen their share of defence spending shrink.

US President Donald Trump has thanked Japan for buying the expensive US equipment, helping curtail criticism of Japan amid trade tensions between Tokyo and Washington.

For the next financial year, Japan’s defence officials have asked for 115.6 billion yen to buy nine Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters, including for the first time six short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) B variants that it wants to operate from aircraft carriers. That purchase will help Japan project military power by extending the range at which the country’s self-defence forces can operate.

The defence ministry also wants 116.3 billion yen to bolster ballistic missile defences (BMD), including money for a new generation of interceptor missiles designed by Raytheon to shoot down incoming warheads in space.

In addition, it is seeking funds for vertical launch systems for ships and two planned ground-based Aegis Ashore radar missile tracking stations.

The ministry asked for 52.4 billion yen to strengthen its outer space capability amid the intensifying race among major powers such as the US, Russia and China to develop technologies in the domain.

A space operation unit will be newly formed inside Japan’s air self-defence force, with purchases of equipment to detect electromagnetic interference with Japan’s satellites, as well as an optical telescope to monitor space debris and unidentified objects in outer space.

The ministry also sought 23.8 billion yen to expand the number of cyber defence unit members and take other measures for cybersecurity. To develop a “stand-off electronic warfare aircraft”, which can hinder invading enemy forces by jamming equipment, 20.7 billion yen will be earmarked.

These requested items reflect the government’s latest national defence guidelines adopted last December, which said that the fields of cyberspace, outer space and electronic warfare have the potential to “fundamentally change the shape of national security” that has so far mainly focused on conventional ground, sea and air domains.