- Japan’s defence ministry will invest in AI and automation to address a recruitment shortfall and enhance military capabilities amid declining troop numbers.
- Japan’s defence ministry, seeking to modernise and address a recruitment shortfall, plans a 6.9% budget increase to 8.5 trillion yen. Investments include 18 billion yen for AI surveillance, additional unmanned drones, and three highly automated warships.
OUR TAKE
Japan’s focus on integrating AI and automation into its defence strategy is a smart move given the current recruitment challenges and regional security concerns. With a declining birth rate impacting the availability of recruits, leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and reduce the reliance on human personnel makes sense. The increased budget and strategic investments reflect a proactive approach to modernising Japan’s military capabilities, which is crucial for maintaining a robust defence posture in the face of growing regional tensions. However, balancing these technological advancements with the need to address long-term recruitment issues and demographic trends will be key to sustaining these efforts.
-Tacy Ding，BTW reporter
What happened
Japan’s defence ministry announced on Friday that it will invest in AI, automation, and improving conditions for troops to address a worsening recruitment shortfall that has left its forces understaffed amid a build-up aimed at countering China’s growing military power.
The measures, revealed in its latest defence budget request on Friday, follow the Self-Defence Forces’ (SDF) worst-ever annual recruitment drive. In the year to 31 March, it enrolled just under 10,000 sailors, soldiers, and air personnel—half of its target.
Fearing that China could use military force to bring neighbouring Taiwan under its control and potentially draw Japan into a conflict, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in 2022 a doubling of defence spending. This increase is intended to stock up on missiles and other munitions, fund advanced fighter jets, and establish a cyber defence force.
However, Japan’s declining birth rate means it is struggling more than ever to maintain the current SDF troop levels at 250,000 personnel.
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Why it’s important
“As we enhance our defensive capabilities, we need to build an organisation that is equipped to fight in new ways,” the defence ministry said in its annual budget request, which calls for a 6.9% increase in spending to a record 8.5 trillion yen ($59 billion).
To manage the reduced number of recruits, the ministry stated it will introduce artificial intelligence technology, allocating 18 billion yen next year for an AI surveillance system to enhance military base security.
It will also purchase additional unmanned drones and order three highly automated air defence warships for 314 billion yen, which require only 90 sailors—less than half the crew needed for current ships.
And in a bid to tap Japan’s shrinking pool of fighting-age people, who are also being pursued by companies able to pay more, it plans to offer financial incentives and better living conditions, such as sleeping quarters with more privacy and improved access to social media.
