Japan has signed Fujitsu Ltd. to develop artificial intelligence “agents” that could serve as digital staff officers to support military decision-making by Self-Defense Forces commanders.
Fujitsu said March 10 it had been awarded a research contract by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), the Defense Ministry bureau responsible for defense equipment development, procurement, management and international cooperation.
An AI agent is a software system that can perceive its environment, reason toward a given objective and independently carry out steps needed to achieve it.
The project aims to equip the agents with “AI staff officer capabilities,” including rapid decision-making and advanced information gathering and analysis, according to the Japanese technology company.
The commissioned research lists three main objectives: accelerating decision-making; ensuring superiority in information gathering and analysis capabilities; and reducing the burden on SDF personnel and promoting labor-saving.
Under the project, Fujitsu will develop technology that assigns roles to multiple AI agents so they can formulate combat strategies, as well as technology enabling them to generate tactical actions through natural-language commands similar to everyday conversation.
Fujitsu, which has advanced AI expertise and operates in the defense sector, will lead the project in collaboration with startups and other entities that have not previously been involved in the defense industry.
The research and development budget is about 100 million yen ($628,460).
The project is now seeking partner companies, with selections to be finalized in late June. The results of the research and development are scheduled to be compiled by March 2028.
Originally written by: KENICHIRO SHINO
Source: The Asahi Shimbun
Published on: 6 April 2026
Link to original article: Fujitsu hired to develop AI support for SDF commanders
