Japan beefs up ground force with new armoured vehicles

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 combat battalions and rapid deployment regiments in nearly all JGSDF divisions or brigades.

This year, Japan will also buy two new armoured vehicles based on the MCV’s 8x8 chassis. It will spend JPY24.6 billion on 24 infantry combat vehicles armed with a 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster cannon, and JPY8.2 billion on eight manoeuvre mortar combat vehicles fitted with a 2R2M 120mm mortar. Their role will be to “deal with invading forces in a mobile manner”, according to the country’s MoD.

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The Japanese MoD’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) has said it expected to sign a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the vehicles this year, which would permit deliveries in 2027–28. No orders have yet been placed for a third MCV-based variant, the combat reconnaissance vehicle equipped with an EO/IR sensor suite and SATCOM, with ATLA continuing to test it.

Additionally, the MoD allotted JPY13.6 billion for 26 AMVxp 8x8 APCs. Patria Group and Japan Steel Works signed a licensing agreement covering manufacture of the AMVxp on 31 August 2023, with the Finnish platform destined to replace in-service Type 96 wheeled APCs.

Also listed in the FY2024 budget were 10 more Type 10 tanks for JPY16.8 billion and 16 Type 19 155mm truck-mounted howitzers for JPY15.1 billion.

Elsewhere, ATLA has continued testing the Thales Australia Hawkei and General Dynamics Land Systems Eagle V as it seeks a replacement for the Komatsu Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV).

An RfP was believed to have been issued to both contenders late last year and evaluations should conclude this year ahead of a contract award in 2025 allowing for the first vehicles to be delivered in 2026.

A Thales demonstration vehicle was in Japan for more than a year, before two Hawkeis replaced it for the ongoing trials. They have been seen in a Japanese camouflage scheme and with Mitsubishi badges.

When asked about Hawkei export opportunities, a Thales Australia spokesperson told Shephard it could not comment “due to contractual and commercial in-confidence arrangements”. It has been understood, however, that if the Hawkei is selected, MHI would perform local assembly and through-life sustainment.

Japanese Hawkei modifications will include a software change to the engine management system to allow easier starting in sub-zero conditions. Also apparent have been two banks of smoke grenade launchers mounted above the windscreen, and a roof-mounted turret for a machine gunner.

The Eagle V has been seen recently in the Fuji area undergoing evaluations.

Komatsu pulled out of defence production in 2019, citing a lack of profitability leading Tokyo to look overseas for platforms to replace the domestically built Type 96 8x8 APC and 4x4 LAV.

Related Programmes in Defence Insight

LAV Replacement (Japan)

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

Type 96

Type 19

Type 16 MCV