Japan beefs up ground force with new armoured vehicles
The JGSDF will purchase 24 Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicles in FY2024, as well as two new variants spawned from the Mitsubishi-built chassis. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s (JGSDF) has been modernising its combat vehicle fleet to deter threats from nearby China, Russia and North Korea.
The JGSDF’s combat vehicle fleet has continued being modernised under a record FY2024 defence budget of JPY7.95 trillion (US$55.9 billion), which was approved last December, as the country keeps watch on threats from China, North Korea and Russia.
Under its new budget commencing 1 April, which was up 16% year on year, Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) allocated JPY21.3 billion for 24 Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicles (MCVs). Japan has planned to induct 250 of these MCVs which have been favoured for their ease of air transportation and ability to move rapidly by road. They will be fielded by reconnaissance
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