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]