Key Facts
• Japan’s Defense Ministry plans a record 8.8 trillion yen budget for FY2025.
• This surpasses the current fiscal year’s 8.7 trillion yen allocation.
• Focus includes acquiring over 200 billion yen worth of unmanned drones.
• U.S.-made MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones will see additional purchases.
• Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 attack drones, costing 700 million yen each, are included.
• A team was formed in April 2025 to strategize future warfare methods.
• The government aims to spend 43 trillion yen on defense over five years (2023–2027).
• FY2025 marks the fourth year of this defense enhancement plan.
Summary
Japan’s Defense Ministry is finalizing plans to request a record 8.8 trillion yen budget for fiscal year 2025, exceeding the current year’s 8.7 trillion yen. This increase aligns with the government’s five-year defense enhancement strategy, targeting a total of 43 trillion yen by 2027. The budget prioritizes unmanned drone acquisitions, allocating over 200 billion yen for this purpose. Planned purchases include additional U.S.-made MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones and Turkey’s cost-effective Bayraktar TB2 attack drones. These measures reflect lessons from the Ukraine conflict, where drones played a significant role. A specialized team, established in April 2025, is developing strategies for future warfare, emphasizing drone use in air, sea, and underwater operations.
