Japan Ministry of Defense
Japan's cabinet-level ministry directing the Self-Defense Forces and a record defence build-up toward 2% of GDP.
Last refreshed: 15 June 2026
How is Japan's defence ministry spending its record 10.6 trillion yen build-up budget?
Timeline for Japan Ministry of Defense
Placed a first Ministry of Defense order for Red Cat Black Widow drones for the Ground Self-Defense Force
Drones: Industry & Defence: Red Cat raises $225m and wins Japan- What is Japan's defence budget in 2026?
- Japan's Ministry of Defense approved a record budget of approximately 10.6 trillion yen (around $66.5 billion) for fiscal year 2026, equal to roughly 1.9% of GDP. The government aims to reach 2% of GDP by Fiscal Year 2027.Source: Japan Ministry of Defense / Japan Times
- What did Japan's 2022 National Security Strategy change about its military?
- The December 2022 National Security Strategy ended Japan's post-war 1% of GDP defence ceiling, authorised counter-strike (long-range strike) capabilities, and set a five-year programme to roughly double annual defence spending to 2% of GDP by FY2027.Source: CSIS / mod.go.jp
- Why is Japan buying drones for its Self-Defense Forces?
- Japan's 2022 defence strategy required building an uncrewed systems inventory from scratch as part of a counter-strike doctrine. The Ministry of Defense placed a first order for 173 Black Widow reconnaissance drone systems through its procurement agency ATLA in 2026.Source: Red Cat Holdings / asdnews.com
- Who is Japan's current Minister of Defense?
- Shinjiro Koizumi has served as Japan's Minister of Defense since October 2025, overseeing the country's record defence build-up under the 2022 National Security Strategy.Source: mod.go.jp
- What is ATLA in Japan's Ministry of Defense?
- ATLA stands for the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, an external bureau of Japan's Ministry of Defense responsible for research and development, procurement negotiations, and project management of defence equipment, including the competitive tender process for the Black Widow drone contract.Source: mod.go.jp / investing.com
Background
Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) is the cabinet-level department responsible for directing the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and overseeing all defence procurement, research and development, and strategic planning. Established in January 2007 when the former Japan Defense Agency was elevated to ministerial status, it sits at the centre of the most ambitious Japanese rearmament since the Second World War. Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has held the portfolio since October 2025, steering a record fiscal 2026 defence budget of approximately 10.6 trillion yen (~$66.5 billion), equal to 1.9% of GDP, tracking toward the government's 2027 target of 2% of GDP.
The MoD directs three branches: the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. A Japan Joint Operations Command, stood up in 2025, centralises cross-branch operational control for the first time. The ministry's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) runs all competitive procurement. In December 2022 the cabinet approved a National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and five-year Defense Buildup Program that together ended Japan's post-war 1% of GDP spending cap and authorised counter-strike capabilities.
The 173-unit Black Widow reconnaissance drone order placed with Red Cat Holdings in June 2026, routed through local partner HAMA K.K. and led by ATLA, is an early step in building the JGSDF's uncrewed inventory from scratch. The MoD is a recurring actor across Indo-Pacific security, missile defence, uncrewed systems, and bilateral partnership topics.
