Japan’s Defense budget to reach unprecedented amount of $54 Bn in 2024.

Japan is in the process of finalizing plans to allocate an unprecedented defense budget of ¥7.7 trillion ($54 billion) for the fiscal year 2024, The Japan Times reports. This substantial budget increase is a crucial component of their comprehensive strategy to bolster their military capabilities in response to the challenging regional security landscape, according to government insiders who disclosed this information on December 16.
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Japan's alliance with the U.S. remains a cornerstone of its security policy. US forward support observers assigned to 2nd Bn, 17th Field Artillery Rgt, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Inf. Div., and members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force on December 6, 2021, at Yakima Training Center, Wa. (Picture source: US Army/Sgt. Jerod Hathaway, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division)

The amount, which significantly surpasses the prior record of ¥6.8 trillion set in the current fiscal year until March, encompasses expenditures earmarked for the acquisition of domestic long-range missiles, The Japan Times comments. This expenditure is a key component of the government's strategy to develop the capacity to target enemy territories.

The driving factors behind this increase are multifaceted. First and foremost, Japan's geographical proximity to North Korea and the ongoing security threats posed by the unpredictable regime in Pyongyang continue to be a significant concern. Additionally, China's expanding military capabilities and territorial assertiveness in the East and South China Seas have raised alarms in Tokyo, prompting Japan to bolster its defenses.

In the fiscal year 2024, the Japanese government is allocating ¥96.1 billion for the acquisition of an upgraded version of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-12 surface-to-ship guided missile. This enhanced missile, with an extended range, is scheduled for deployment in fiscal 2025, one year ahead of the original plan. Additionally, The Japan Times writes that the budget includes ¥64 billion for a collaborative effort, alongside Britain and Italy, aimed at developing a next-generation fighter jet by 2035. This marks Japan's first joint defense equipment development partnership with a country other than the United States, one of Tokyo's closest security allies.

Furthermore, there are plans to establish a research institute dedicated to the advancement of innovative defense equipment, taking inspiration from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), known for its pioneering work in defense technology, according to insider sources.

Japan is investing in cyber defense, space security, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and unmanned systems, which are crucial components of its modernization efforts.

Japan's alliance with the United States remains a cornerstone of its security policy. With evolving global dynamics and the need for increased self-reliance in defense, Japan is allocating more resources to ensure its military capabilities complement those of its American allies effectively.

Defense News December 2023