IRIA News

Japanese Ministry of Defense submitted a request to the country’s Finance Ministry seeking approval for a record-high 7.7 trillion Yen ($53 billion) defense budget for fiscal year 2024. Tokyo has been increasing its defense spending exponentially amid increasing tensions with China and North Korea.

The Ministry of Defense submitted a detailed budget request to the Finance Ministry on August 31, 2023. Japan’s fiscal year typically starts in April. The Defense Ministry is hoping to seek approval in the coming months.

Last year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a ten-year plan for the country’s defense spending. According to the plan, Japan would spend at least 2% of its annual GDP on defense each year, a standard also encouraged by NATO for its member states.

Japan’s $46 billion defense budget for 2023 was already a leap forward compared to the country’s previous defense spending. The 2024 budget would exceed last year’s budget by 16%.

The budget request document has detailed all the acquisitions that Tokyo plans to make in all domains. It is now up to the Finance Ministry to go through the details and approve the budget.

Naval defense

The Defense Ministry has requested $2.6 billion for the construction of two Aegis system-equipped naval vessels to bolster defense against ballistic missile threats.

After the approval of the required budget, the construction of the first vessels would begin in 2024 with commissioning planned for 2027. The second vessel is to join the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces in the following year.

The two vessels would include 128 vertical launching system cells for ballistic missile interceptors as well as launchers for the indigenously produced Type 12 anti-ship, land-attack missile which is currently under development.

Japan will also start the construction of a new class of frigates in 2024. The Defense Ministry has set a budget of $1.2 billion for the construction of the first two frigates. Japan plans to add 12 new Mogami class of frigates to its naval fleet. The frigates would also be equipped with the Type 12 missile.

Aviation

Japan is continuing its efforts to buy air-to-air standoff weapons from abroad. The Japanese Defense Ministry has requested an additional budget in 2024 to purchase the Joint Strike Missile made by Norway’s Kongsberg Defense, as well as the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile made by U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin. The missiles will be paired with the F-35 fighters and upgraded Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle interceptors with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, respectively.

The ministry has requested a $739.3 million budget to acquire eight F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing variants as well as $862.3 million for seven F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing versions in 2024.

Japanese Air Force is on track to become one of the largest operators of the F-35 jets outside the U.S. as it plans to acquire 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B jets. Japan has already finalized a deal for 83 F-35 jets and is set to receive some deliveries in 2025.

The Japanese Defense Ministry has also requested a budget of $82 million to upgrade the existing fleet of F-15J and F-2 jets. After upgradation, the jets would become capable of carrying air-launched Type 12 missiles.

Land vehicles, missiles, and hypersonic weapons research

The Defense Ministry has included a budget request to continue research and development for a land-based long-range Type 12 missile. The project is also expected to explore the possibilities of developing Japan’s first hypersonic weapons.

The budget request is also seeking substantial funding for Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force to acquire more combat vehicles.

The ministry has asked for $561 million to buy 24 wheeled infantry fighting vehicles, eight self-propelled mortars, and 19 Type 16 maneuver combat vehicles as well as 10 Type 10 main battle tanks. It is also asking for $215.4 million to procure 28 AMV wheeled armored personnel carriers from Finland.