{"id":22005,"date":"2018-12-19T15:17:57","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T15:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/12\/19\/japan-seeks-drones-subs-f-35-jets-as-part-of-243-billion-defense-spending-plan\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:36:08","slug":"japan-seeks-drones-subs-f-35-jets-as-part-of-243-billion-defense-spending-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/unmanned\/2018\/12\/19\/japan-seeks-drones-subs-f-35-jets-as-part-of-243-billion-defense-spending-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan seeks drones, subs, F-35 jets as part of $243 billion defense-spending plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MELBOURNE, Australia \u2014 Japan intends to procure more F-35 fighter jets, shipborne unmanned aircraft and submarines, according to newly released midterm defense guidelines and an associated defense plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The long-awaited documents, released Tuesday afternoon Tokyo time and formally approved by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe\u2019s Cabinet, would see Japan spend almost $243 billion on defense over the next five fiscal years, which in Japan begins April 1 and ends March 31 the following year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known as the National Defense Program Guidelines and the Mid-Term Defense Plan, or MTDP, the documents outline Japan\u2019s defense policy and outlook for the next five fiscal years as the country grapples with the rising economic and military power by regional rival China and the threat posed by North Korea\u2019s nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest news to come out of the MTDP was the confirmation that Japan will seek to add to its buy of an additional 105 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, which would include 42 F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aircraft, although this was not much of a surprise, as Japan\u2019s Ministry of Defense had briefed a number of reporters about the details prior to the guidelines’ release.<\/p>\n\n\n\t