Japan to research use of automatic navigation and AI for SDF transport ships

The Defense Ministry plans to enhance research and development for the introduction of Self-Defense Forces transport ships equipped with artificial intelligence and automatic navigation technology, informed sources have said.

The move is part of the ministry’s labor-saving efforts and is also aimed at reinforcing the SDF’s maritime transportation capacity in preparation for contingencies.

The initiative will be included in the government’s three key security-related documents, slated to be revised by the end of this year, the sources said.

An automatic ship navigation system helps select appropriate routes by assessing weather conditions and wave heights using satellites and various sensors. It is expected to support the operation of ships by limited numbers of crew members, amid a labor shortage reflecting the country’s declining population.

Tests of unmanned ship navigation have already been conducted in the private sector.

In the event of an enemy attack, Japan would need to swiftly evacuate residents of remote islands and transport food and other goods.

Bearing in mind a potential emergency in the Nansei southwestern region, where many remote islands are located, the ministry plans to promote labor-saving and unmanned operations of SDF transport vessels to ensure smooth supplies of goods and reduce risks for SDF members in unsafe areas, according to the sources.

The ministry believes that it is also necessary to introduce advanced technologies in SDF transport and logistics operations in response to “new ways of warfare” backed by AI and drones, which have been actively used in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

As part of its budget request for fiscal 2027, which starts next April, the ministry sought funds for research and surveys on self-navigating ships without indicating a specific amount.

Last year, the SDF Maritime Transport Group was established among the Air, Ground and Maritime SDF to strengthen the defense posture in the Nansei region in light of the Chinese military’s increasing maritime activities.

As improving the SDF’s capability to deploy troops and equipment to islands is becoming a key challenge, the ministry aims to build a stable maritime transport system that works effectively both in peacetime and during emergencies.