The Defense Ministry on Tuesday requested a ¥5.4 trillion ($49 billion) budget for fiscal 2022, aiming to accelerate enhancement of capabilities in new domains and promote the development of new technologies to deal with China’s growing military presence.
The request would exceed a record ¥5.3 trillion allocated in the initial budget for fiscal 2021 started in April, rising for the tenth consecutive year. It does not include outlays linked to hosting U.S. military bases, which have been about ¥200 billion annually.
The ministry said it also left out the cost of upgrading 70 F-15 fighter jets. It aims to install Lockheed Martin’s air-to-surface standoff missile and will continue negotiations with the United States to decrease the estimated total cost of ¥398 billion.
It ramped up research and development expenditures, up ¥114.1 billion to a record ¥325.7 billion, for potentially game-changing technologies, such as crewless aircraft using artificial intelligence, to support next-generation fighter jets, while continuing the enhancement of capabilities in new domains such as outer space and cyberspace.
The request for such spending will include systems for the electromagnetic spectrum to shoot down drones and other aerial threats with high-energy lasers or microwaves.
The ministry asked for ¥130 billion to acquire more F-35 advanced stealth fighter jets and ¥10.2 billion for small and midsized transport ships to support remote island defense operations in the country’s southwest.
Such islands include the Japanese-controlled, Beijing-claimed Senkaku Islands, which China calls Diaoyu, in the East China Sea. Missile units will be placed on Ishigaki Island to strengthen defense capabilities around the country’s southwest chain of islands, the ministry said.
The ministry requested ¥37.9 billion for standoff missiles to be launched from various platforms, including ships and aircraft.
It asked for ¥5.8 billion to modify radars for new ships equipped with the Aegis missile interceptor system after scrapping the plan to introduce a U.S.-made Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system.
But the ministry put off costs to construct Aegis system-equipped ships as it has yet to decide on detailed operation plans.
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