Government and ruling-party officials said the program would use Physical AI technology to develop robots capable of operating autonomously in military environments. Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency is expected to lead the research.
The government is considering humanoids for guarding military bases and transporting supplies, tasks currently performed by personnel. Reconnaissance and rescue operations are also being considered as possible future applications. Officials are currently negative on deploying humanoids directly in combat roles.
The Defense Ministry included the humanoid research program as an unspecified funding request in its fiscal 2027 budget proposal, meaning the project is being pursued but its eventual budget has not yet been determined.
Japan is also considering a Robotics Task Challenge in which robots developed by private companies and universities would compete on defined operational tasks. The initiative would allow the government to evaluate commercially developed robotics systems and their suitability for defense applications.
The program is partly aimed at reducing personnel requirements as Japan’s Self-Defense Forces face long-term recruitment pressure. Defense officials estimate that the population eligible for recruitment could decline by approximately 30% over the next two decades. One ministry official told Kyodo that unmanned systems could substitute for or supplement personnel where staffing is limited.
The plans remain under consideration rather than an approved humanoid deployment program. No robot manufacturer or hardware platform has been selected.
