Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV

Mitsubishi Type 89
Type 89
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Japan
Service history
In service	1989 - Present
Used by	Japan
Production history
Designer	Komatsu Limited and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Designed	1980
Manufacturer	Komatsu Limited and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Produced	1989 - Present
No. built	70 approx
Specifications
Mass	27,000 kg
Length	6.70 m
Width	3.20 m
Height	2.5 m 2.75 m (overall)
Crew	3 + 7
Main armament	35 mm KDE cannon
Secondary armament	2 x Type 79 Jyu-MAT missile, 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
Engine	6 SY 31 WA 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, Mithubisi 89shiki-soukou-senntou-sya) is a Japanese infantry fighting vehicle that entered service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in 1989. The vehicle was adopted at a low rate with 58 vehicles in service as of 1999, with a total of 70 produced by 2005. The main armament of the vehicle is an Oerlikon Contraves 35 millimeter KDE cannon.

Development

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, this however has been scaled back. By the end of 1999 just 58 were in service, and just two vehicles were purchased that year, with only a single vehicle purchased the following year. The primary contractor for the project was Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the main subcontractor being Komatsu Limited.

Description

The vehicle is of relatively conventional layout with a welded steel hull. The 600 horsepower 6 SY 31 WA 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.

The rear of the hull with the spherical firing port.

A Type 89 prototype at the JGSDF public information center.

In the center of the hull is the two man turret which mounts the Oerlikon Contraves 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 three 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 six infantry men. The troops enter through two large doors which swing open to the side. The troop compartment has six firing ports, three on the left, one of the right rear exit door, two on the right side. Each of the firing ports is provided with a vision periscope mounted above it.

See also

• Argentinean VCTP
• British Warrior tracked armoured vehicle
• Chinese ZBD97 Type 97
• French AMX-10P
• French VBCI
• German Schutzenpanzer Marder
• German Schutzenpanzer Puma
• India Abhay IFV
• Italian Dardo IFV
• Russian BMP-3 IFV
• Singaporean Bionix AFV
• South Korean K21
• Spanish Pizarro IFV
• Swedish CV90 IFV
• US M2 Bradley IFV

References

• Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005-2006.
• "89式 装甲戦闘車". rightwing.sakura.ne.jp.
• "89式装甲戦闘車". masdf.com.
• "89式装甲戦闘車". Military Powers.
• "Type 89 Blindé de combat d'infanterie - Armoured infantry fighting vehicle". armyrecognition.com. Template:Fr icon

External links

• Type 89 IFV from DogsWar.ru (Russian)
• Official JGSDF Page.