September 22, 2026

The Ministry of Defense in late August released an analysis of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, praising the use of AI in military technology and tactics.

Clearly, the ministry intends to incorporate an AI system into the Self-Defense Forces’ command and control (CAC) systems.

The U.S. military uses Palantir Technologies’ “Maven Smart System (MSS)” which is said to be a leading candidate for adoption in the SDF. The ministry’s analysis praises the MSS for accelerating the process from target selection to choosing the means of attack, noting that the MSS can strike approximately 1,000 targets within 24 hours of commencement.

However, in late February, the U.S. military accidentally bombed a girls’ elementary school in Iran, killing 175 people, mostly young schoolgirls. The AI used outdated map data, resulting in the bombing. An independent UN fact-finding mission in its report (Sep.17) concluded that the incident constituted a war crime.

The ministry analysis acknowledges that inaccurate input data could lead to erroneous judgments, but it makes no mention of the U.S. bombing of the elementary school.

Following the release of the analysis, Defense Minister Koizumi at a ministry meeting referred to the MSS’s capabilities, stating, “We cannot conceive of a future national security without AI.”

If the U.S. AI CAC system is introduced, the SDF could become embroiled in attacks on enemy bases, including preemptive strikes against other countries, under U.S. military command.

Past related article:
> JCP Daimon opposes introduction of US AI system into SDF [July 10, 2026]