Japan has revealed a plan to expand its military capabilities in space, including new satellites, orbital monitoring systems and a major enlargement of its military space force.
According to the website Defence Blog, Japan’s Ministry of Defense released a document detailing the strengthening of the country’s space capabilities amid growing Chinese threats and the advancement of hypersonic weapons.
The main focus of the expansion is the new Space Operations Group, a structure linked to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JSDF) that is expected to reach around 880 members by the end of fiscal year 2026. The group will be responsible for space surveillance operations, orbital intelligence, monitoring satellite interference and supporting military operations.
The plan also includes the launch of satellites designed to detect hypersonic vehicles, as well as systems capable of tracking electronic interference, cyberattacks and suspicious movements in Earth orbit. Some of the projects involve Japanese companies such as Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace and JAXA.
According to the Japanese government, investments in space defense have grown rapidly in recent years. The sector’s budget rose from around 79 billion yen in 2022 to approximately 540 billion yen in 2025.
The document released by Japan’s Ministry of Defense directly cites the growth of China’s presence in space as one of the country’s main strategic concerns. According to data presented by Japan, China’s fleet of military satellites has increased nearly sixfold since 2012.
Source and images: Reproduction / Defence Blog / JSDF. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
