Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV

Mitsubishi Type 89
Mitsubishi Type 89
	Type 89 shooting its Oerlikon 35 mm KDE cannon
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Japan
Service history
In service	1989–present
Used by	Japan
Production history
Manufacturer	Komatsu Limited and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Unit cost	$3.5 million
Produced	1989–2004
No. built	120
Specifications
Mass	26.5 tonnes
Length	6.8 m
Width	3.2 m
Height	2.5 m ; 2.75 m (overall)
Crew	3 + 7
Armor	steel ceramic composite armour[citation needed]
Main; armament	35 mm KDE cannon
Secondary; armament	2 × Type 79 Jyu-MAT missile, Type 74 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
Engine	Mitsubishi 6SY31WA Water-cooled 6-cylinder diesel; 600 hp at 2,000 rpm
Suspension	Torsion bar
Operational; range	400 km
Maximum speed	70 km/h

The Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV (三菱89式装甲戦闘車, Mitsubishi 89-shiki sōkō-sentō-sha)(89 FV ) is a Japanese infantry fighting vehicle that entered service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in 1989. There were 58 vehicles in service as of 1999^[update] and a total of 120 produced by 2014 with 300 planned. The main armament of the vehicle is an Oerlikon Contraves 35 millimeter KDE cannon.

Development[edit]

Development of the Type 89 began in 1980, with four prototypes being produced in 1984. These prototypes were tested until 1986. It was accepted into service and type classified in 1989. When the vehicle entered production, the initial requirement was for around 300 vehicles. The primary contractor for the project was Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the main subcontractor being Komatsu Limited.

Description[edit]

The vehicle is of relatively conventional layout with a welded steel hull. The 600 horsepower Mitsubishi 6SY31WA water-cooled diesel engine located in the front left of the hull. It drives an automatic transmission which in turn drives the track via drive sprockets at the front of the hull. On each side of the hull are six road wheels with an idler at the rear, and three track return rollers. The suspension is a torsion bar system.

The driver sits to the right of the engine, with a single-piece hatch above him that opens to the right. The driver is provided with three fixed vision periscopes, and a single traversable periscope in the hatch. A passive night vision periscope can be used in place of one of the day periscopes. A single infantry man sits behind the driver and has a hatch immediately above him with two vision periscopes that provide coverage of the front of the hull, as well as a large spherical firing port on the right side of the hull.

In the center of the hull is the two-man turret which mounts the Oerlikon Contraves KD-series 35 millimeter caliber dual-feed cannon with a cyclic rate of fire of approximately 200 rounds per minute, which is produced under license in Japan. Coaxially mounted to the cannon is a Type 74 7.62 millimeter caliber machine gun. The turret also mounts a single Type 79 Jyu-MAT missile on each side of the turret. Underneath the missile launcher is an array of four smoke grenade launchers.

The gunner sits on the left of the turret, with the commander to his right with hatches that open to the rear. Both are provided with telescopic sights mounted on the front of the turret. The gunner has two vision periscopes that cover the front and left of the turret. The commander has six periscopes that provide all-round coverage. The turret is also fitted with a laser warning system.

At the rear of the hull is the main troop compartment that seats seven infantrymen. The troops enter through two large doors which swing open to the side. The troop compartment has seven firing ports: three on the left, one of the right rear exit door, three on the right side. Each of the firing ports is provided with a vision periscope mounted above it.

Operators[edit]

Japan

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
- Ordnance School
- Fuji School
  - Fuji School(Combined Training)Brigade
    - Infantry School Regiment(Mechanized)
- Northern Army
  - 7th Division
    - 11th Infantry Regiment(Mechanized)
  - Northern Army Combined Brigade
    - 1st Sergeant Training Unit

Variants[edit]

This hull was used by Mitsubishi as the basis for the Type 99 155 mm self-propelled howitzer introduced in 1999. The engine was kept, but the chassis was lengthened by one road wheel to accommodate extra weight of the heavy artillery piece.

References[edit]

Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005-2006.
"89式装甲戦闘車". rightwing.sakura.ne.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-01-27.
"89式装甲戦闘車". masdf.com.
"89式装甲戦闘車". Military Powers. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14.
"Type 89 Blindé de combat d'infanterie - Armoured infantry fighting vehicle". armyrecognition.com (in French).

External links[edit]

Official JGSDF Page.

v t e Komatsu Limited
Subsidiaries	Hanomag Joy Global
Products	Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle Haulpak Komatsu 830E Komatsu 930E Komatsu 960E-1 Komatsu D475A Komatsu D575A Komatsu LAV Komatsu PC200-8 Hybrid Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV Type 60 Armoured Personnel Carrier Type 60 Self-propelled 106 mm Recoilless Gun Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier
People	Yoshiyuki Matsuoka Atsuko Nagai Ayumi Tanimoto Miku Tashiro Nae Udaka

v t e Modern Japanese armored fighting vehicles
Tanks	Type 61 Type 74 Type 90 Type 10
Self-propelled artillery	Type 74 Type 75 Type 99 Type 75 130 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher Light-weight Combat Vehicle System
Tank destroyers	Type 60 Self-propelled 106 mm Recoilless Gun Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle
Armoured personnel carriers	Type 60 Type 73 Type 89 IFV Type 96
Armored cars	Type 82 Type 87 Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle
Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns	Type 87