Tokyo, Aug. 31 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Defense Ministry said Monday that it will ask for a record 8,890.8 billion yen under the government's budget for fiscal 2027, which starts next April. The figure is based on the existing Defense Buildup Program, which sets the country's defense spending at around 43 trillion yen for the five years through fiscal 2027. As the budget request includes many items for which specific amounts of necessary funds are not fixed yet, the total sum to be sought is likely to increase during the budget compilation process late this year. With the government planning to revise the country's three key security-related documents within this year to cover fiscal 2027 and later years, spending for many related measures in the budget request was left unspecified due to possible changes based on the document update. The fiscal 2027 budget request includes spending on measures featuring the use of artificial intelligence and drones in response to new warfare as a major pillar, as well as on organizational revamp plans, such as establishing a new agency to aid retired Self-Defense Forces members and their families. Specifically, the ministry will introduce AI to the SDF's Joint Operations Command in order to help commanding officers make swift decisions. It will utilize existing foreign AI systems for the time being while promoting the development of domestic systems. The ministry plans to introduce a high-security sovereign cloud as part of its AI platform. Utilizing private-sector technologies, the ministry will start developing long-range drones that can be mass-manufactured quickly and cheaply. It will also work on developing underwater-launched hypersonic guided missiles to enhance the country's standoff defense capabilities. Besides setting up the new agency for retired SDF members, which will have a staff of about 110, the ministry will establish three new bureaus, for international policies, defense infrastructure and facility policies. In light of Russia's prolonged invasion of Ukraine, the ministry will put efforts into securing sustained combat capabilities. As part of the move, it will begin research on introducing cargo ships equipped with autonomous navigation technology to ensure stable supplies of goods. Aiming to improve the country's defense equipment production bases, the ministry will newly set up an entity in charge of promoting exports of such equipment. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]