August 19, 2026

In order to strengthen the Self-Defense Forces’ counter-strike capability, the Ministry of Defense is reportedly considering using an AI system that can rapidly collect and analyze information and suggest options. U.S.-made AI is said to be the leading candidate for implementation from the perspective of emphasizing Japan-U.S. collaboration.

The introduction of AI into command and control (CAC) systems will streamline the decision-making process for attacks and could increase the brutality of war. Using the same AI as the U.S. military would result in the seamless integration of the SDF into the U.S. military’s chain of command, which has a history of waging lawless wars.

At a meeting in March of this year, the ministry expressed concern about the gap in Japan-U.S. cooperation, noting that the SDF’s use of AI is still in its early stages compared to the U.S. military’s use. The ministry has begun deploying long-range missiles nationwide, the core part of the SDF’s enemy base attack capability. However, it acknowledges that operating these missiles requires intelligence and CAC support from the U.S. military.

Consequently, the ministry has focused on testimony from U.S. officials who claim that “NGA Maven,” the AI system adopted by the U.S. military for CAC, reduces the time from target detection to attack from several hours to several minutes. According to the testimony, during the first attack on Iran, this AI system generated the entire operational plan, including target identification, unit selection, munitions selection, and attack routes.