Overview
- The plan boosts long-range strike and unmanned coastal defenses, including ¥100.1 billion for the SHIELD drone network and accelerated Type‑12 missile deployment to Kumamoto by March.
- Defense outlays reach about ¥9.04 trillion for FY2026, funding standoff missiles, hypersonic programs and space and cyber capabilities as part of year four of a five‑year buildup targeting roughly 2% of GDP.
- Financing relies on ¥29.58 trillion in new bonds, with debt‑service costs at a record ¥31.28 trillion based on a higher 3.0% assumed interest rate.
- Social‑security spending totals ¥39.06 trillion, the largest share of the ¥122.31 trillion general account.
- The budget heads to the regular Diet session opening Jan. 23, with passage needed by March, as recent China–Japan frictions — including radar lock incidents — intensify security concerns.