The expanded use of AI and unmanned systems, along with the shortage of SDF personnel, are emerging as key issues surrounding the new way of warfare advocated by the Defense Ministry. Taking into account the impact of Ukraine's drone war, the government is moving toward a force structure centered on unmanned assets.
As military technology around the world evolves rapidly, Japan's Self-Defense Forces face the challenges of adopting the latest technologies and dealing with personnel shortages. In its 2026 Defense of Japan white paper, the government outlined the "new way of warfare" as a key focus and emphasized its policy of using unmanned systems and AI.
On the battlefield in Ukraine, tactics involving low-cost small unmanned aircraft that accurately identify and attack targets have spread, and cases of long-range attacks have also been reported. As a result, the configuration of the battlefield is shifting from one centered on crewed weapons to one centered on drones.
In Japan, the SDF has an authorized strength of approximately 247000 personnel, compared with an actual strength of 217701 and a staffing rate of 88.1%. Vacancies among enlisted personnel serving on the front lines have reached approximately 40%, while a substantial increase in personnel is unlikely amid the declining birthrate.
The government is accelerating the introduction of unmanned assets, including unmanned aircraft, unmanned vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles. Defense Minister Koizumi (小泉) said the government would "transform the SDF into the world's foremost organization in the use of unmanned assets." Work has also begun on bringing forward revisions to the 3 security-related documents.