Short of soldiers, Japan increases technology application and military spending

Japan's Defense Ministry said on August 30 that it will invest in artificial intelligence (AI), automation and improving conditions in the military to address a shortage in soldier recruitment.

In the fiscal year ending March 31, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) recruited less than 10,000 troops, half of their target. (Source: Japan Times)

This problem is getting worse, causing the Japanese military to lack personnel amid the need to build up forces to counter security threats.

Japan's falling birthrate means the country is finding it harder than ever to maintain its current troop levels of 250,000.

“As we strengthen our defense, we need to build an organization that can fight in new ways,” the Defense Ministry said in its annual budget proposal, calling for a 6.9 percent increase in military spending to a record 8.5 trillion yen ($59 billion).

To cope with low recruitment, Japan's Defense Ministry will adopt AI technology, allocating 18 billion yen next year for an AI-based military facility security monitoring system.

The ministry will also buy more drones and order three highly automated air defense warships worth 314 billion yen, which require only 90 sailors to operate, less than half the number on current ships.

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