Defense ministry creates a nuclear-powered submarine policy unit

The defense ministry created a 21-person policy-planning unit for nuclear-powered submarines to coordinate related work with other government agencies, under a revision effective Aug. 14, 2026.

The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Policy Planning Group will operate until Aug. 14, 2029. Its remit includes policy, coordination of procurement and operations, coordination with foreign countries and international organizations, and nuclear-safety policy. It will also prepare the ministry's medium-term defense plan for the program and handle conflict-management and acceptance matters.

Five positions in the group will be filled by officials from the foreign affairs, industry, climate-energy-environment, defense acquisition and nuclear-safety agencies.

The revision also establishes an information and security policy office under the vice defense minister, with four directors. The reason for creating the office was the need for more efficient guidance and oversight of the Defense Intelligence Headquarters, Defense Counterintelligence Command and Defense Security Support Group.

The office will coordinate policy on intelligence, security and counterintelligence. It will also cover defense cybersecurity, military-secret classification and management, and cryptography policy.

The office will receive 25 positions, including one senior official. The ministry will add a grade-six post to meet sharply rising audit demand, raising its authorized headcount to 713 from 687.