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Japan defense white paper emphasizes AI and drones for future conflict
The 610-page document, released Tuesday, frames autonomous systems as central to how Japan expects future conflicts to be fought, citing lessons from Ukraine.
Japan’s latest defense white paper, a 610-page document released on Tuesday, emphasizes adaptivity and the scale of drones as Tokyo looks to build asymmetric capabilities in the event of conflict with China, according to experts cited by SCMP Economy.
The report highlights the need to integrate unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, along with other advanced technologies, across Japan’s Self-Defence Forces as the security environment grows more complex.
While Japan has invested in drones and AI for years, the white paper signals a shift in emphasis, positioning autonomous systems not just as emerging tools, but as an integral part of how future conflicts may be conducted.
SCMP Economy reports that Christopher Hughes of the University of Warwick said Japan is drawing an overarching lesson from Ukraine, where a smaller military can frustrate and potentially exhaust a larger adversary through rapid technological innovation and relatively low-cost capabilities.