Type 90
Encyclopedia
The is the main battle tank
(MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
(JGSDF) . It was designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
as a replacement for all deployed Type 61
and Type 74
tanks, and entered service in 1990. It is to be superseded by the Type 10
tank.
or approximately 7.4 million US dollars at 2008 exchange rates.
After the adoption of the Type 74
, the Japanese High Command was already looking for a superior, completely indigenous tank design to defeat the Soviet T-72
. As a result, development of a prototype, the TK-X MBT began between 1976 and 1977. Joint development was performed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and leadership of TRDI (Japan Defense Agency's Technology Research and Development Institute). Major subcontractors include Japan Steel Works
, Daikin Industries
, Mitsubishi Electric
, Fujitsu
and NEC
.
Requirements of the Type 90 were completed in 1980 with two prototypes, both armed with a Japanese 120 mm gun (product by Japan Steel Works Limited) firing Japanese ammunition (product by Daikin Industries Limited), completed in 1982 to 1984. Testing, improvements (Turret and half Modular type ceramic composite armour), and designs were modified and constructed until 1986.
A second series of four prototypes was built between 1986 and 1988 which incorporated changes as a result of trials with the first two prototypes. These were armed with the Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore gun also fitted to the German Leopard 2
and, in a modified version, in the US M1A1/M1A2 Abrams
MBT. These second prototypes were used for development and then user trials, all of which were completed by 1989, before Japan formally acknowledged the Type 90 in 1990.
With the exception of the 120 mm smoothbore gun, which is made under licence from Rheinmetall
of Germany
, the Type 90 and its subsystems are all designed and built in Japan, leading to higher per unit costs for comparable models from NATO countries such as the M1 Abrams
and the Challenger 2. Development of upgrades on Type 90s has suffered both as a result of limited budget resulting in procurement delays and funding prioritization of the Type 10
Main Battle Tank
. Due to Japanese perception that the Type 90 is unsuited for operations in the limited confines of urban areas in Japan, Type 90 tanks are preferentially assigned to the JGSDF Fuji School Brigade and the 7th Armored Division based in Hokkaido
where there is sufficient room for maneuver. With the exception of training exercises such as the annual Combined Live Fire Exercise hosted by the United States Army
at Yakima Training Center
in Washington State, the Type 90 has never been deployed overseas, and it has never been tested in combat.
Rheinmetall L44
120 mm smoothbore
cannon product by Japan Steel Works Limited. This is the same gun that is mounted on the German Leopard 2
, American Abrams
, and the South Korean K1A1 tanks. Before Rheinmetall's gun was selected, Japan has successfully produced a domestic version of the 120 mm smoothbore for testing, but the lower cost of the Rheinmetall's gave it an advantage over the domestic version.
Since its introduction, there have been several upgrades to the fire-control system
including the addition of a Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet
laser rangefinder with a range of 300 to 5,000 meters, a 32-bit ballistics
analysis computer, an improved thermal imaging systems and Automated-tracking systems as well as improved gun stabilization. The FCS also has an automated tracking systems and is capable of engaging moving or stationary targets while moving at day and night. The automatic target tracking system uses a thermal image display which can be controlled by either the tank gunner or commander. It is capable of tracking soldiers, vehicles and helicopters. The targeting computer can also calculate lead on moving targets.
The commander's sight consists of a 3× / 10× (day-only sight). The sight can track vertically from −29 to +29 degrees, as well as track horizontally through 180 degrees. The gunners sight has a 10 x zoom.
The gun is armed and loaded through a mechanical bustle autoloader
(conveyer-belt type), developed by Mitsubishi of Japan. The Type 90 tank is the first non-Soviet main battle tank to achieve manpower savings by reducing the crew to three through the development of the turret bustle autoloader (with the exception of the turretless Strv 103). This design allows the tank crew to operate without a loader, which allows the use of a smaller turret. The autoloading can reload in around two seconds, and the practical auto-loading and firing cycle for one target will be around 4–6 seconds.
Mounted in front of the gunner's hatch on the turret is the ubiquitous Browning
M2 machine gun, manufactured under license by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, part of the Sumitomo Group
. In addition to the .50-caliber machine gun is a Japanese-built 7.62 mm machine gun mounted coaxially to the left of the main gun.
Leopard 2
without the sloped armor, (Leopard 2 to 2A4) but unlike the Leopard 2, the Type 90 uses modular ceramic and steel composite armor, common in contemporary post-1990s tank designs. The adoption of modular composite armor design facilitates the upgrading and exchange of the armor, and its frontal armor is tested to be effective against JM-33 120 mm APFSDS
projectiles from the L44 gun, while the side armor of the turret is capable of defeating up to 35 mm APDS
(Armor penetration of 90 millimeters of RHA
at one kilometer) projectiles.
The Type 90 is smaller than most main battle tanks with a height of 2.33 meters, a width of 3.33 meters, and weighing in at 50.2 tonne
s. It was designed with a distinctive low-slung turret with boxy, vertical sides and a long overhanging bustle
. In comparison, the Leopard 2A4's dimensions are 2.48 meters high and 3.70 meters with a weight of 55.2 tonnes.
The development of the 10ZG32WT prototype was started in 1972 and was finished in 1982. It can attain a top output of 1,120 kW (1,500 horsepower
).
The hydropneumatic suspension
units are mounted on the front and rear pair of road wheels, which can be adjusted on-the-fly to deal with uneven terrain, a requirement on Japan's rough, mountainous terrain.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense official data report, the acceleration of the type is 0–200 m in 20 seconds.
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
(MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The , or JGSDF, is the army of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Yoshifumi Hibako...
(JGSDF) . It was designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
as a replacement for all deployed Type 61
Type 61
The Type 61 was a main battle tank developed and used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force , built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries....
and Type 74
Type 74
The is a main battle tank of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force . It was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for the earlier Type 61. It was based on the best features of a number of contemporary designs, placing it in the same class as the US M60 or German Leopard 1. Like...
tanks, and entered service in 1990. It is to be superseded by the Type 10
Type 10
The is an advanced Japanese main battle tank.-Overview:The TK-X project aims to produce the new Type 10 main battle tank, to replace or complement the existing Type 74 and Type 90 main battle tanks that are currently in service with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. Development began in the...
tank.
Manufacturing cost
The Type 90 has an approximate unit cost of 790 million Japanese yenJapanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
or approximately 7.4 million US dollars at 2008 exchange rates.
History
Type 74
The is a main battle tank of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force . It was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for the earlier Type 61. It was based on the best features of a number of contemporary designs, placing it in the same class as the US M60 or German Leopard 1. Like...
, the Japanese High Command was already looking for a superior, completely indigenous tank design to defeat the Soviet T-72
T-72
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
. As a result, development of a prototype, the TK-X MBT began between 1976 and 1977. Joint development was performed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and leadership of TRDI (Japan Defense Agency's Technology Research and Development Institute). Major subcontractors include Japan Steel Works
Japan Steel Works
is a steel manufacturer founded in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan in 1907.-History:Japan Steel Works was set up with investment from British firms Vickers and Armstrong Whitworth. During World War II, they manufactured what was then the world's largest gun barrel to be fitted on the battleship Yamato...
, Daikin Industries
Daikin Industries
is a Japan-based multinational corporation present in Japan, China, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.The company was founded in 1924 by Akira Yamada in Osaka, Japan. Daikin has centrally been a chemical corporation, where its focus has been on air conditioning systems...
, Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric
is a multinational electronics and information technology company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group....
, Fujitsu
Fujitsu
is a Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is the world's third-largest IT services provider measured by revenues....
and NEC
NEC
, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
.
Requirements of the Type 90 were completed in 1980 with two prototypes, both armed with a Japanese 120 mm gun (product by Japan Steel Works Limited) firing Japanese ammunition (product by Daikin Industries Limited), completed in 1982 to 1984. Testing, improvements (Turret and half Modular type ceramic composite armour), and designs were modified and constructed until 1986.
A second series of four prototypes was built between 1986 and 1988 which incorporated changes as a result of trials with the first two prototypes. These were armed with the Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore gun also fitted to the German Leopard 2
Leopard 2
The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
and, in a modified version, in the US M1A1/M1A2 Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
MBT. These second prototypes were used for development and then user trials, all of which were completed by 1989, before Japan formally acknowledged the Type 90 in 1990.
With the exception of the 120 mm smoothbore gun, which is made under licence from Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defence company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. The company has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces...
of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the Type 90 and its subsystems are all designed and built in Japan, leading to higher per unit costs for comparable models from NATO countries such as the M1 Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
and the Challenger 2. Development of upgrades on Type 90s has suffered both as a result of limited budget resulting in procurement delays and funding prioritization of the Type 10
Type 10
The is an advanced Japanese main battle tank.-Overview:The TK-X project aims to produce the new Type 10 main battle tank, to replace or complement the existing Type 74 and Type 90 main battle tanks that are currently in service with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. Development began in the...
Main Battle Tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
. Due to Japanese perception that the Type 90 is unsuited for operations in the limited confines of urban areas in Japan, Type 90 tanks are preferentially assigned to the JGSDF Fuji School Brigade and the 7th Armored Division based in Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
where there is sufficient room for maneuver. With the exception of training exercises such as the annual Combined Live Fire Exercise hosted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at Yakima Training Center
Yakima Training Center
The Yakima Training Center is a United States Army training center located in south central Washington state. It is bounded on the west by Interstate 82, on the south by the city of Yakima, on the north by the city of Ellensburg and Interstate 90, and on the east by the Columbia River...
in Washington State, the Type 90 has never been deployed overseas, and it has never been tested in combat.
Armament
The Type 90 mounts a licensed copy of the GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Rheinmetall L44
Rheinmetall L44
The Rheinmetall 120 mm gun is a smoothbore tank gun designed and produced by the West German Rheinmetall-DeTec AG company, developed in response to Soviet advances in armor technology and development of new armored threats...
120 mm smoothbore
Smoothbore
A smoothbore weapon is one which has a barrel without rifling. Smoothbores range from handheld firearms to powerful tank guns and large artillery mortars.-History of firearms and rifling:...
cannon product by Japan Steel Works Limited. This is the same gun that is mounted on the German Leopard 2
Leopard 2
The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
, American Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
, and the South Korean K1A1 tanks. Before Rheinmetall's gun was selected, Japan has successfully produced a domestic version of the 120 mm smoothbore for testing, but the lower cost of the Rheinmetall's gave it an advantage over the domestic version.
Since its introduction, there have been several upgrades to the fire-control system
Fire-control system
A fire-control system is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director, and radar, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. It performs the same task as a human gunner firing a weapon, but attempts to do so faster and more...
including the addition of a Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet
Yttrium aluminium garnet
Yttrium aluminium garnet is a synthetic crystalline material of the garnet group. It is also one of three phases of the yttria-aluminium composite, the other two being yttrium aluminium monoclinic and yttrium aluminium perovskite . YAG is commonly used as a host material in various solid-state...
laser rangefinder with a range of 300 to 5,000 meters, a 32-bit ballistics
Ballistics
Ballistics is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.A ballistic body is a body which is...
analysis computer, an improved thermal imaging systems and Automated-tracking systems as well as improved gun stabilization. The FCS also has an automated tracking systems and is capable of engaging moving or stationary targets while moving at day and night. The automatic target tracking system uses a thermal image display which can be controlled by either the tank gunner or commander. It is capable of tracking soldiers, vehicles and helicopters. The targeting computer can also calculate lead on moving targets.
The commander's sight consists of a 3× / 10× (day-only sight). The sight can track vertically from −29 to +29 degrees, as well as track horizontally through 180 degrees. The gunners sight has a 10 x zoom.
The gun is armed and loaded through a mechanical bustle autoloader
Autoloader
An autoloader or auto-loader is a mechanical aid or replacement for the personnel that load ordnance into crew-served weapons, such as tanks and artillery...
(conveyer-belt type), developed by Mitsubishi of Japan. The Type 90 tank is the first non-Soviet main battle tank to achieve manpower savings by reducing the crew to three through the development of the turret bustle autoloader (with the exception of the turretless Strv 103). This design allows the tank crew to operate without a loader, which allows the use of a smaller turret. The autoloading can reload in around two seconds, and the practical auto-loading and firing cycle for one target will be around 4–6 seconds.
Mounted in front of the gunner's hatch on the turret is the ubiquitous Browning
Browning Arms Company
Browning Arms Company is a maker of firearms, bows and fishing gear. Founded in Utah in 1927, it offers a wide variety of firearms, including shotguns, rifles, pistols, and rimfire firearms and sport bows, as well as fishing rods and reels....
M2 machine gun, manufactured under license by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, part of the Sumitomo Group
Sumitomo Group
is one of the largest keiretsu, founded by Masatomo Sumitomo.-History:The Sumitomo group traces its roots to a bookshop in Kyoto founded circa 1615 by a former buddhist priest,...
. In addition to the .50-caliber machine gun is a Japanese-built 7.62 mm machine gun mounted coaxially to the left of the main gun.
Armor
The profile of the Type 90 is similar to the original GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Leopard 2
Leopard 2
The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
without the sloped armor, (Leopard 2 to 2A4) but unlike the Leopard 2, the Type 90 uses modular ceramic and steel composite armor, common in contemporary post-1990s tank designs. The adoption of modular composite armor design facilitates the upgrading and exchange of the armor, and its frontal armor is tested to be effective against JM-33 120 mm APFSDS
Kinetic energy penetrator
A kinetic energy penetrator is a type of ammunition which, like a bullet, does not contain explosives and uses kinetic energy to penetrate the target....
projectiles from the L44 gun, while the side armor of the turret is capable of defeating up to 35 mm APDS
Armour-piercing discarding sabot
Armour-piercing discarding sabot is a type of kinetic energy projectile fired from a gun to attack armoured targets. APDS rounds are sabot rounds and were commonly used in large calibre tank guns, but have now been superseded by armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot projectiles in such...
(Armor penetration of 90 millimeters of RHA
Rolled homogeneous armour
Rolled homogeneous armour is a type of steel which is used to armour vehicles.-Composition:Armoured steel must be hard yet impervious to shock in order to resist high velocity metal projectiles. Steel with these characteristics is produced by processing cast steel billets of appropriate size and...
at one kilometer) projectiles.
The Type 90 is smaller than most main battle tanks with a height of 2.33 meters, a width of 3.33 meters, and weighing in at 50.2 tonne
Tonne
The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...
s. It was designed with a distinctive low-slung turret with boxy, vertical sides and a long overhanging bustle
Bustle rack
A bustle rack is a type of storage bin mounted on combat vehicles, usually on the sides and/or rear of the turret. These racks are used to carry extra gear and supplies for the vehicle in the field, as well as give the crew a place to store their belongings so that they don't take up the already...
. In comparison, the Leopard 2A4's dimensions are 2.48 meters high and 3.70 meters with a weight of 55.2 tonnes.
Mobility
The powerpack of the Type 90 tank has the Mitsubishi 10ZG32WT 10 cylinder two stroke cycle diesel engine providing 1500 hp, coupled with Mitsubishi MT1500 automatic transmission with four forward and two reverse gears, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (designated 10ZG32WT, MT1500).The development of the 10ZG32WT prototype was started in 1972 and was finished in 1982. It can attain a top output of 1,120 kW (1,500 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
).
The hydropneumatic suspension
Hydropneumatic suspension
Hydropneumatic suspension is a type of automotive suspension system, invented by Citroën, and fitted to Citroën cars, as well as being used under licence by other car manufacturers, notably Rolls-Royce, and Peugeot. It was also used on Berliet trucks and is since recently used on Mercedes-Benz...
units are mounted on the front and rear pair of road wheels, which can be adjusted on-the-fly to deal with uneven terrain, a requirement on Japan's rough, mountainous terrain.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense official data report, the acceleration of the type is 0–200 m in 20 seconds.
External links
- Type 90 tank at the Federation of American Scientists
- Type 90 Tank at Globalsecurity.org
- Main Battle Tank Type 90 at ArmsWorld
- Type 90 Main Battle Tank at Historyofwar
- Official unit cost data of Type 90 Main Battle Tank at Japan Ministry of Defense pdf file
- 120 mm L44 Tank Gun at Rheinmetall AG
- Official Video -Type90 Tank- at Channel J (product cooperation:JGSDF)
- Official Video -Calflex 2006- at United States Central Command (U.S.CENTCOM)
- YouTube Video1 at YouTube
- YouTube Video2 at YouTube
- YouTube Video3 at YouTube
- YouTube Video4 at YouTube