Japan is seeking a record military budget of 8.54 trillion yen ($58 billion) for 2025, allocating billions to improve satellite reconnaissance to defend against North Korean and Chinese threats. 

On Friday, Tokyo’s defense ministry requested a 10.5% increase from 2024 for next year’s budget, allocating significant funds to space surveillance and counterstrike capabilities in line with Japan’s embrace of a more proactive defense strategy.

The proposed budget, which exceeds the 8 trillion yen mark for the first time, has earmarked $2.21 billion for a “satellite constellation system” to improve Japan’s ability to detect and track potential missile launches, particularly from