Japan's Next Year's Defense Budget... Significant Enhancement of Air Power Targeting Dokdo

Next-generation Japanese fighter jet

Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 Support Fighter (Lockheed Martin)

[Monthly Aviation Editor-in-Chief Kim Jae-han] Japan is expected to continue its recent trend of record increases in defense spending next year amid annual record hikes in its defense budget. In particular, Japan has focused on strengthening its response capabilities to China's military modernization and North Korea's missile program, reflecting a large budget for the development, acquisition, and performance upgrades of new aircraft in next year's defense budget proposal.

▲ Allocation of 60.8 trillion KRW for new fighter development, etc.= According to the Ministry of Defense, the defense budget for fiscal year 2021 was set at 5.5 trillion yen, approximately 60.8 trillion KRW. This represents about an 8% increase compared to the previous year, and if this budget is finalized, it will mark the sixth consecutive year since 2015 of the largest-ever budget scale. Notably, this budget proposal is the first defense budget released after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office, continuing the policy of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who strengthened Japan's participation in international security issues.

The budget proposal includes a substantial allocation for strengthening air power, including aircraft development and acquisition. Among the notable projects, about 636 billion KRW was requested for next-generation fighter development, and approximately 705.5 billion KRW for the acquisition of F-35 fighters (4 F-35A units and 2 F-35B units).

In particular, a total of 147 F-35 fighters are planned to be introduced, including 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B units. Once acquisition is complete, Japan is expected to become the country operating the most F-35 fighters outside the United States. Among these, the F-35B will be deployed on the Izumo-class helicopter destroyer, which is currently being converted into a light aircraft carrier. To this end, the Ministry of Defense requested about 250 billion KRW in next year's budget for the Izumo's conversion costs. According to the Ministry of Defense, the conversion includes heat-resistant coatings to protect the flight deck from F-35B exhaust gases and heat, as well as modifications to change the bow shape to a square form to accommodate F-35B operations.

▲ Budget also requested for performance upgrades and special mission aircraft development= The budget proposal also includes funds related to the acquisition of new aircraft excluding fighters, performance upgrades and life extension of existing aircraft, and development of special mission aircraft. First, the new aircraft acquisition project includes about 738 billion KRW for acquiring three P-1 maritime patrol aircraft to replace the aging Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-3C, and 303 billion KRW for the additional acquisition of five UH-60J helicopters for the Air Self-Defense Force.

Additionally, about 559 billion KRW was included for the acquisition of two C-2 transport aircraft to address the reduction in transport aircraft capability and to increase range and payload, and approximately 151 billion KRW for one US-2 search and rescue amphibious aircraft to maintain maritime rescue capabilities.

Performance upgrade projects include upgrades for the F-15J and F-2 fighters. Among these, the performance upgrade for the Air Self-Defense Force's main fighter, the F-15J, aims to respond to the strengthening of neighboring countries' air power and simultaneously enhance the F-15J's air defense mission capabilities. About 231.5 billion KRW was requested to improve stand-off missile operation capability, increase ammunition load, and enhance electronic warfare capabilities. Furthermore, about 32.5 billion KRW was requested to improve the anti-ship operation capability and network functions of the F-2 support fighter to respond to the modernization of neighboring countries' maritime and air power. Currently, the Air Self-Defense Force operates 155 F-15J and 62 F-2 aircraft.

Other requests include about 166 billion KRW for the development of stand-off electronic warfare aircraft to support Air Self-Defense Force air operations through effective jamming, approximately 54.3 billion KRW for research on the information collection system of the next electronic intelligence gathering aircraft to replace the existing EP-3, and about 10.8 billion KRW and 79 billion KRW respectively for performance upgrades (1 unit) and life extension (3 units) of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's SH-60K maritime patrol helicopters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.