Explore / Japan
Japan military
Global rank #10
Japan ranks #10 of 24 in the 2026 Military Atlas Index. It spends $62.2B on defense (1.4% of GDP) and has 247K active personnel.
Key statistics
$62.2B
Defense Budget
1.4%
Budget % of GDP
247K
Active Personnel
56K
Reserve Personnel
1,214
Military Aircraft
264
Fighter Jets
47
5th Gen Fighters
488
Helicopters
340
Main Battle Tanks
772
Artillery Systems
22
Submarines
2
Aircraft Carriers
0
Nuclear Warheads
Sources: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database (2025), World Bank (2025), IISS The Military Balance (2026), Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), citing FlightGlobal World Air Forces (2026), Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) (2026).
Equipment inventory
Japan: Aircraft (37)
McDonnell Douglas F-15 EagleFighter Jet199confirmed
F-15JFighter Jet · Japan155confirmed
Mitsubishi F-2AFighter Jet · Japan62confirmed
Fuji T-7Trainer Aircraft49confirmed
T-4Trainer Aircraft · Japan49confirmed
PC-9Transport Aircraft · Switzerland45confirmed
F-35A Lightning IIFighter Jet · United States42 F-35A delivered (105 total planned)confirmed
P-1Maritime Patrol Aircraft · Japan34confirmed
P-3C OrionMaritime Patrol Aircraft · United States32confirmed
T-5JTransport Aircraft · Japan30confirmed
Hawker 800 (SAR)Search & Rescue Aircraft · United Kingdom25confirmed
E-2C/D (AEW)Transport Aircraft · United States20confirmed
PC-21Transport Aircraft · Switzerland19confirmed
C-2Transport Aircraft · Japan15confirmed
C-130HTransport Aircraft · United States14confirmed
Beech 90 King Air (TC-90)Transport Aircraft · United States13confirmed
Hawker 400Transport Aircraft13confirmed
T-400Trainer Aircraft · United States13confirmedIGSSatellite · Japan9confirmed
Beech 350 King Air (LR-2)Transport Aircraft · United States8confirmed
King Air 350Transport Aircraft · United States7confirmed
Shin Meiwa US-2Maritime Patrol Aircraft · Japan7confirmed
C-130R HerculesTransport Aircraft · United States6confirmedBeech 90 King Air (LC-90)Transport Aircraft · United States5confirmedEP-3C OrionTransport Aircraft · United States5confirmed
767 (AEW)Transport Aircraft · United States4confirmed
767 (KC-767J)Transport Aircraft · United States4confirmed
Boeing E-767Airborne Early Warning4confirmed
KC-46ATransport Aircraft · United States4confirmed
Cessna Citation LatitudeTransport Aircraft2confirmed
Learjet 36ATransport Aircraft · United States2confirmedHamashio II (Katonami mod)Transport Aircraft · Japan1confirmed
JinbeiTransport Aircraft1confirmed
Kirameki-1UAV / Drone · Japan1confirmedKirameki-2UAV / Drone · Japan1confirmed
Honeywell RQ-16 T-HawkUAV / Drone—confirmed
SeaFoxUAV / Drone · Germany—confirmedJapan: Helicopters (17)
UH-1H/V IroquoisHelicopter · United States102confirmed
S-70/UH-60L/MHelicopter · United States80confirmed
SH-60K SeahawkHelicopter · United States72confirmed
CH-47C+/FHelicopter · United States41confirmed
OH-1SHelicopter · Japan33confirmed
Enstrom 480B (TH-480B)Helicopter · United States30confirmed
H125M/AS350/550Helicopter · France15confirmed
H135Helicopter · France15confirmedCH-47F ChinookHelicopter · United States14confirmed
V-22 OspreyHelicopter · United States14confirmed
Bell 412Helicopter · United States8confirmed
SH-60B Seahawk (SH-60J)Helicopter · United States7confirmed
AW101Helicopter · United Kingdom3confirmed
H225 Super Puma MkII+ (VIP)Helicopter · France3confirmed
SH-60L SeahawkHelicopter · United States2confirmedMitsubishi H-60Helicopter—confirmed
Yamaha R-MAXHelicopter—confirmedJapan: Land (28)
L16Artillery System · United Kingdom656confirmed
120mm RT-61 mortarArtillery System · France382confirmed
Type-96Armored Vehicle · China381confirmed
Type-90Tank · Japan238confirmed
Type-73Armored Vehicle · Japan226confirmed
FH-70Artillery System · United Kingdom196confirmed
Type-82 (CP)Armored Vehicle · Japan179confirmed
Type 16 Maneuver Combat VehicleTank · Japan177confirmed
Type-99Artillery System · Japan136confirmed
Type 10 (10式戦車)Tank · Japan~114 in serviceconfirmed
Type 87 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft GunArtillery System · Japan110confirmed
Type 89 Infantry Fighting VehicleArmored Vehicle · Japan68confirmed
AAV-7A1Armored Vehicle · United States52confirmed
Chemical Reconnaissance VehicleArmored Vehicle · Japan34confirmedType-91Armored Vehicle · Japan22confirmed
M270 MLRSArtillery System · United States21confirmedNBC Reconnaissance VehicleArmored Vehicle · Japan21confirmed
Type-78Engineering Vehicle · Japan19confirmed
Type-19Artillery System · Japan14confirmed
BushmasterArmored Vehicle · Australia8confirmed
127mm gunArtillery System · Italy—confirmed
76mm gunArtillery System · Italy—confirmed
Carl GustafArtillery System · Sweden—confirmed
Hirtenberger M6C-210Mortar · Austria—confirmed
M72 LAWRcl · United States—confirmed
Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWSArtillery System · United States—confirmed
Panzerfaust 3Rcl · Germany—confirmed
Type 96 120 mm self-propelled mortarMortar · Japan—confirmedJapan: Naval (91)
HimegikuPatrol Vessel · Japan160confirmed
HayagumoPatrol Vessel · Japan26confirmed
TaketomiPatrol Vessel · Japan22confirmed
TokaraPatrol Vessel · Japan20confirmed
RaizanPatrol Vessel · Japan17confirmed
KatonamiNaval Vessel · Japan15confirmed
ShimojiPatrol Vessel · Japan11confirmed
HayanamiPatrol Vessel · Japan10confirmed
OyashioSubmarine · Japan10confirmed
Soryu-class SubmarineSubmarine · Japan10confirmedYodoPatrol Vessel · Japan10confirmed
HaterumaPatrol Vessel · Japan9confirmed
JDS Murasame (DD-107)Destroyer · Japan9confirmedKatoriNaval Vessel · Japan9confirmed
Tsugaru (Soya mod)Patrol Vessel · Japan9confirmed
AsagiriDestroyer · Japan8confirmed
SugashimaMine Countermeasures Vessel · Japan8confirmed
AbukumaFrigate · Japan6confirmedHamashioNaval Vessel · Japan6confirmed
HayabusaPatrol Boat · Japan6confirmed
IwamiPatrol Vessel · Japan6confirmed
LCAC(L)Landing Craft · United States6confirmed
MogamiFrigate · Japan6confirmed
TsuruugiPatrol Vessel · Japan6confirmed
HiuchiSupport Ship · Japan5confirmed
OjikaPatrol Vessel · Japan5confirmed
Takanami (improved Murasame)Destroyer · Japan5confirmed
AkizukiDestroyer · Japan4confirmedAsogiriPatrol Vessel · Japan4confirmed
HamagumoPatrol Vessel · Japan4confirmed
HayakazePatrol Vessel · Japan4confirmed
ShikishimaPatrol Vessel · Japan4confirmedAsoPatrol Vessel · Japan3confirmed
AwajiMine Countermeasures Vessel · Japan3confirmed
EnoshimaMine Countermeasures Vessel · Japan3confirmedHayagikuPatrol Vessel · Japan3confirmed
HibikiOcean Surveillance Ship · Japan3confirmed
HidaPatrol Vessel · Japan3confirmed
HirashimaMine Countermeasures Vessel · Japan3confirmedMiyakoPatrol Vessel · Japan3confirmed
OsumiLanding Ship · Japan3confirmedShunkoPatrol Vessel · Japan3confirmed
Taigei-class SubmarineSubmarine · Japan3 in service (7 planned)confirmed
TeshioPatrol Vessel · Japan3confirmed
TowadaReplenishment Ship · Japan3confirmedAmamiPatrol Vessel · Japan2confirmed
Asahi (Akizuki mod)Destroyer · Japan2confirmed
AtagoDestroyer · Japan2confirmedHakubaiPatrol Boat · Japan2confirmed
HakuunNaval Vessel · Japan2confirmed
HyugaAircraft Carrier · Japan2confirmed
JS Izumo (Helicopter Carrier / Proto-Carrier)Aircraft Carrier · JapanJS Izumo + JS Kaga (converting to carriers)confirmed
MashuReplenishment Ship · Japan2confirmed
Maya (Atago mod)Destroyer · Japan2confirmedMeiyoSurvey Ship · Japan2confirmed
PeiyoNaval Vessel2confirmed
UragaMine Countermeasures Vessel · Japan2confirmedYOT-01Naval Vessel · Japan2confirmed
Aki HikariNaval Vessel · Japan1confirmed
AobaNaval Vessel · Japan1confirmed
AsukaExperimental Ship · Japan1confirmed
ChihayaSubmarine Rescue Ship · Japan1confirmed
ChiyodaSubmarine Rescue Ship · Japan1confirmedFutamiSurvey Ship · Japan1confirmed
Itsukushima (trg role)Training Ship · Japan1confirmed
IzuFrigate · Japan1confirmed
JS AkashiSurvey Ship1confirmed
JS HashidateAuxiliary Ship1confirmed
KashimaTraining Ship · Japan1confirmedKojima (trg role)Training Ship · Japan1confirmed
KurobeTraining Support Ship · Japan1confirmed
LCU 2000Landing Craft · United States1confirmedMiura (trg role)Frigate1confirmed
MizuhoPatrol Vessel · Japan1confirmedMizuho IIPatrol Vessel · Japan1confirmed
MurotoCable Layer · Japan1confirmed
NichinanSurvey Ship · Japan1confirmed
ShiraseIcebreaker · Japan1confirmed
ShonanSurvey Ship · Japan1confirmedShoyoSurvey Ship · Japan1confirmed
SoyaPatrol Vessel · Japan1confirmed
TakatsukiNaval Vessel · Japan1confirmedTakuyoSurvey Ship · Japan1confirmed
TenryuTraining Support Ship · Japan1confirmedTenyoNaval Vessel · Japan1confirmed
Teshio (icebreaker)Icebreaker · Japan1confirmedMogami USVUnmanned Surface Vessel · Japan—confirmed
New FFMFrigate—confirmedOZZ-5Autonomous Underwater Vehicle · Japan—confirmed
Powhatan-class tugboatOcean Tug—confirmed
REMUS 100Autonomous Underwater Vehicle · United States—confirmedJapan: Missile (42)
MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3Missile System · United States120confirmed
Type 81 Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile SystemAir Defence System · Japan84confirmed
MIM-23B I-HawkMissile System · United States66confirmed
Type-88Missile System · Japan62confirmed
Type-12Missile System · Japan38confirmed
Type-96 MPMSMissile System · Japan37confirmed
Type-11 Tan-SAMMissile System · Japan22confirmed
Type 03 (TEL)Air Defence System · Japan12confirmedType-11Air Defence System · Japan5confirmed
AGM-114M Hellfire IIMissile System · United States—confirmed
AGM-65 MaverickMissile System · United States—confirmed
AGM-84 HarpoonMissile System · United States—confirmedASM-1C (Type-90)Missile System · Japan—confirmedASROC A/S mslMissile System · United States—confirmedAir Base Defense SAMAir Defence System · Japan—confirmed
FIM-92 StingerMissile System · United States—confirmed
GBU-38 JDAMMissile System · United States—confirmed
GBU-54 Laser JDAMMissile System · United States—confirmedGCS-1Missile System · Japan—confirmed
HOS-303 ASTTMissile System · Japan—confirmed
Middle-range multi-purpose missileMissile System · Japan—confirmed
Mk 46 LWTMissile System · United States—confirmedRGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShMMissile System · United States—confirmed
RIM-116 SAMMissile System · United States—confirmed
RIM-162B ESSM SAMMissile System · United States—confirmed
RIM-7M/P Sea Sparrow SAMMissile System · United States—confirmed
SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB/IV SAMMissile System · United States—confirmed
SM-3 Block IA/IB/IIA SAMMissile System · United States—confirmed
SSM-1B (Type-90) AShMMissile System · Japan—confirmedSSM-2 (Type-17) AShMMissile System · Japan—confirmed
TOWMissile System · United States—confirmedType 81 Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile SystemAir Defence System · Japan—confirmed
Type 93 surface-to-air missileAir Defence System · Japan—confirmed
Type-01 LMATMissile System · Japan—confirmed
Type-07 A/S mslMissile System · Japan—confirmedType-18 HWTMissile System · Japan—confirmed
Type-79 Jyu-MATMissile System · Japan—confirmed
Type-87 Chu-MATMissile System · Japan—confirmed
Type-89 HWTMissile System · Japan—confirmed
Type-91 Kei-SAMAir Defence System · Japan—confirmedType-97 LWTMissile System · Japan—confirmed
UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShMMissile System · United States—confirmed
Each row is labeled Confirmed, Estimated or Alleged. A dash means no count is published.