Development of Japan’s first Infantry Fighting Vehicle started in 1983 and entered production in 1989 with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with Komatsu as a sub contractor. In comparison to other IFV’s from other developed countries, the production rate has been extremely slow.

When production ended in 2004 a total of 68 had been built and delivered to the JGSDF (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force).

The Japanese Type 89 IFV Description

The vehicle is very capable, mounting a 35mm Oerlikon Contraves KDE auto-cannon as its principal armament. Its equipped with a 7.62mm coaxial MG and mounts a single Jyu-MAT Wire Guided Anti-Tank Missile on either side of the turret. Its unknown how many rounds are carried on the vehicle.

The engine is a Mitsubishi Type 6 SY 31 WA diesel, which generates 600hp and gives a very respectable 70km/h. It has an operational range of 400km.

The vehicle is constructed of all steel, and nothing much else is known about its protective quality’s. However it does have an NBC protection and a bank of 4x smoke grenade launchers is mounted either side of the turret.

The driver sits front right in the hull, with the engine to his left. Commander sits on the right and gunner on the left of the two man turret. The rear troop compartment takes 7 fully equipped troops. The exit via two rear doors and have roof hatches as well as firing ports for the personal arms. The crew have night vision sights. There are no known variants of the vehicle.