Japan Passes Bill to Add Space Operations to Air Self-Defense Force

Japan’s parliament on Friday enacted a bill that will reorganize the Air Self-Defense Force to include space operations and rename the branch the Air and Space Self-Defense Force. The legislation revises the Defense Ministry establishment law. It was approved by the Upper House after passing the Lower House in April.

The Air Self-Defense Force will be renamed by the end of fiscal 2026, which ends next March. The change marks the first name change for any branch of the Self-Defense Forces since their establishment in 1954.

Expanded defense structure The bill also increases the number of state ministers of defense from one to two. Officials said the addition is intended to improve emergency responses to disasters. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said at a news conference that the reorganization will allow the ministry to address the most severe and complex security environment of the postwar period.

The Self-Defense Forces also include the Ground Self-Defense Force and the Maritime Self-Defense Force.