The Defense Ministry on Friday requested a record ¥5.32 trillion ($50 billion) budget for fiscal 2020 as it stressed the need to beef up the nation's defense capabilities in domains such as outer space and cyberspace.
The sum marks a 1.2 percent rise from the initial budget for the current fiscal year through March 2020. If approved, the defense budget will grow for the eighth year in a row under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The ministry asked for ¥52.4 billion to strengthen its capabilities in space amid the intensifying race among major powers such as the United States, Russia and China to develop technologies in the domain.