Japanese Ministry of Defense unveils new 8x8 APC armoured vehicle personnel carrier 11601173

Defence & Security News - Japan
 
Japanese Ministry of Defense unveils new 8x8 APC armoured vehicle personnel carrier.
According a statement on the Japanese Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency website (ATLA), Japan has developed a new generation of 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier (APC) to replace the Type 96 8x8 APC in service with the Japanese Armed Forces since 1996.
     
According a statement on the Japanese Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency website (ATLA), Japan has developed a new generation of 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier (APC) to replace the Type 96 8x8 APC in service with the Japanese Armed Forces since 1996. New Japanese 8x8 armoured vehicle (Source photo Japanese MOD)
     

The new vehicle will offer more protection than the previous APC Type 96 to respond to the new threats of modern battlefield as the IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). The first prototype of the vehicle was handed on January 10, 2017.

A total of US $41 million has been invested by the Japanese Ministry of Defense to develop this new wheeled combat vehicle in collaboration with the Japanese Company Komatsu Limited that will continue the trials of the prototype until 2019.

The layout and the design of the vehicle seems very similar to the Finnish Patria and American Stryker APCVs. It has a weight of 20 tons, using an 8x8 chassis that could provides the Japanese Army a new family of different vehicles on a common chassis.

The vehicle can carried a total of 11 military personnel, including driver and commander. The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle on the right side with the commander to his left. The troops compartment is at the rear of the hull with bench seats that run along either side of the hull. They enter and leave the vehicle by a large power-operated ramp in the hull rear that opens downwards and which is also provided with an emergency door in the center.

The vehicle has a new more powerful engine and strengthened suspension compared to the Type 96. It is motorized with a diesel engine developing 500 hp. allowing the vehicle to run at a maxim road speed of 100 km/h.
     
According a statement on the Japanese Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency website (ATLA), Japan has developed a new generation of 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier (APC) to replace the Type 96 8x8 APC in service with the Japanese Armed Forces since 1996. Inside view of the new Japanese 8x8 armoured vehicle
     
The Type 96 is an 8x8 armoured vehicle that entered service with the Japanese Armed Forces in 1996. The vehicle is manufactured by the Japanese Company Komatsu and a total of 365 vehicles are in service with the Japanese Armed Forces.
 

The hull of the Type 96 is made in all-welded steel armour contruction to provide protection against firing of small arms and shell splinters. The vehicle can carried a total of 11 military personnel including driver, commander and gunner.

The Type 96 is fitted with a ring mount weapon station located on the forward part of the hull which is armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
     
The Type 96 is an 8x8 armoured vehicle that entered service with the Japanese Armed Forces in 1996. The vehicle is manufactured by the Japanese Company Komatsu and a total of 365 vehicles are in service with the Japanese Armed Forces. Japanese army Type 96 8x8 APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier)