Core Viewpoint - The Japanese government has approved a record-high defense budget of approximately 9.04 trillion yen for the fiscal year 2026, focusing on enhancing coastal defense capabilities and military modernization [1] Defense Budget Overview - The defense budget will include the development of a coastal defense system centered around numerous drones, procurement of hypersonic missiles, and upgraded Type 12 anti-ship missiles [1] - Japan's defense spending has consistently increased, surpassing 6 trillion yen, 7 trillion yen, 8 trillion yen, and now reaching 9 trillion yen in consecutive fiscal years [1] Organizational Changes - The Japan Air Self-Defense Force will be renamed to the Japan Aerospace Self-Defense Force, and a new "Space Operations Group" will be established with approximately 880 personnel [1] - The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's 15th Brigade, stationed in Naha, Okinawa, will be upgraded to a division [1] Legislative Process - The budget proposal will be submitted to the National Diet for review in January 2026 [1] Long-term Defense Strategy - The Japanese government aims to increase total defense spending to approximately 43 trillion yen from fiscal years 2023 to 2027, as outlined in the new "Security Three Documents" approved in late 2022 [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Japanese government has approved a record defense budget exceeding 9 trillion yen for the fiscal year 2026, marking a significant increase in military spending as part of its new security strategy [1]. Group 1: Defense Budget Overview - The approved defense budget for fiscal year 2026 surpasses 9 trillion yen, setting a new record [1]. - The total defense spending from fiscal years 2023 to 2027 is projected to reach approximately 43 trillion yen [1]. - Japan's defense budget has consistently exceeded key thresholds, surpassing 6 trillion yen, 7 trillion yen, and 8 trillion yen in consecutive fiscal years starting from 2023 [1].

Group 1 - The Japanese Ministry of Defense is considering using modified civilian vehicles, such as the Toyota "Land Cruiser," as the next generation of light armored vehicles for the Self-Defense Forces [1][3] - Currently, approximately 1,800 light armored vehicles are in service, with about 80% exceeding their operational lifespan, prompting discussions for replacement [3] - The Ministry plans to procure civilian models in 2026 and conduct tests in 2028, with the decision to adopt based on test results [3] Group 2 - The testing costs for civilian vehicles are included in the Ministry's budget request for the fiscal year 2026, amounting to 650 million yen (approximately 31 million RMB) [3] - The defense budget for fiscal year 2026 is set to reach a record 8.8 trillion yen (approximately 428.2 billion RMB) [3] - Japan's defense spending is projected to total around 43 trillion yen over the five-year period from 2023 to 2027, reflecting a trend of increasing military expenditure in response to U.S. expectations [4]

Core Points - Japan's Ministry of Defense is preparing a budget request of approximately 8.8 trillion yen for the fiscal year 2026, marking the largest defense budget in history [1] - The budget aims to enhance capabilities in drone utilization for both attack and reconnaissance purposes, including procurement costs for large-scale deployment [1] - The defense budget has shown rapid growth, with the initial budget for fiscal year 2023 at around 6.8 trillion yen, exceeding 7.9 trillion yen for 2024, and surpassing the initial budget of approximately 8.7 trillion yen for 2025 [1]