The budget request calls for (1) addressing electronic warfare, cyber warfare, and the use of space (cross-domain operations), (2) promoting integrated Ground, Maritime, and Air SDF operations and integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) with China in mind, and (3) strengthening logistics capabilities.
The budget requests related to the maritime domain are as follow:
Refurbishment of Izumo class destroyers（$220 million)
As previously reported by Naval News, Japan took the first steps towards the refurbishment of JS Izumo and Kaga following a FY2020 defense budget request. The purpose of this refurbishment is to give them the operational capabilities to operate with F-35B STOVL fighter jets which will be procured for the JASDF.
Previously, the refurbishment work included a heat-resistant coating on the flight deck, but the budget request revealed that the shape of the bow section will be changed to a square shape. This is intended to make it easier for the F-35B to launch from a flight deck.
R&D on Naval Decoys for JMSDF vessels（$285,000）
Traditionally, the JMSDF has equipped its destroyers with chaff and other equipment to deceive enemy missiles. However, in recent years, the Chinese military has been upgrading its anti-ship missiles and the U.S. Navy and other navies have been equipping them with a variety of active and passive decoys, so it is expected that the JMSDF will be equipped with similar ones.
Electronic Warfare Capabilities Enhancements for JMSDF vessels（$190,000）
Traditionally, JMSDF destroyers have operated the NOLQ-2/B/C (for Aegis) and NOLQ-3/B/C/D/D-1/D-2 (for DD/DDH) as ESM/ECM suites to detect and jam radio signals emitted by enemy aircraft, naval vessels and missiles. The budget request included funding to enhance the capabilities of these devices, citing increased capabilities of other countries navies.
Research on future submarine capability enhancements（$67 million）
In order to ensure that JMSDF submarines will continue to be dominant in the water for years to come, the budget request includes research into developing enhanced sonar and reducing the sound of torpedoes and other weapons being fired from tubes.
Functional enhancement of JMSDF Sasebo Naval Base（$130 million）
The JMSDF is currently intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, and to this end, it is adding new berth and logistics-related facilities at the Sasebo Naval Base in Kyushu.
