TSAMTO, October 8th. The draft budget of the Ministry of Defense of Japan for fiscal year 2026 provides for the purchase of a large number of new armored combat vehicles and weapons for the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces.
According to the European Security & Defense resource, the request for the purchase of eight units of mobile 120-mm Type-24 mortars, which are a modification of the latest tactical wheeled vehicle (CTWV), provides for the allocation of 9.5 billion yen. An amount of 27.9 billion yen has been requested for 18 Type-25 reconnaissance and observation vehicles.
Taking into account the fact that the Patria AMV XP 8x8 armored vehicle has already been put into service as part of the Japanese program for the purchase of wheeled armored personnel carriers (WAPC) with an 8x8 wheel formula, the draft budget requested 23 units of AMV XP 8x8 worth 17 billion yen. In addition, 23 Protector RS4 combat modules from the Norwegian company Kongsberg worth 2.9 billion yen were requested for these vehicles. This version of the BBM is designed specifically for Japan.
Eight Type-10 main battle tanks were requested for the amount of 16 billion yen, as well as one Type-11 armored recovery vehicle for the amount of 1.6 billion yen. yen and three Type-23 armored bulldozers worth 3.3 billion yen.
Modernization of the MBT Type-10 is also planned. The Request for Information (RoI) has already been published, but the corresponding budget for fiscal year 2026 has not been requested. In addition, Type-16 combat vehicles were also not requested for 2026.
Fourteen 155-mm Type-19 self-propelled howitzers were requested for the amount of 14 billion yen. Eleven sets of MPGMSM (modified) multipurpose guided missile systems, including missiles and ground equipment, were requested for the amount of 24.8 billion yen. In addition, $29.8 billion was requested. yen to cover the initial cost of building the system's production line and other related costs.
The MPGMSM is an improved version of the existing Type-96 MPGMS multipurpose guided missile system. It has advanced capabilities, including increased range, simultaneous firing of multiple targets, high-speed firing of targets and the ability to fire at all azimuths. While the existing MPGMS system consists of six combat vehicles, MPGMSM includes three: a control and guidance vehicle, search and target designation vehicles, and a launcher (all mounted on highly mobile vehicles). This simplifies the system, as well as reduces the cost and size of the required crew.
An amount of 650 million yen was requested for the purchase of equipment samples as part of the next-generation Light Armored Vehicle –LAV) project. Initially, the successor to the LAV was supposed to be a light armored vehicle (SAV), but this program was canceled.
According to the Office of Public Relations at the headquarters of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces, two proposals were considered for the SAV program: the Hawkei of Australia's Thales Australia, proposed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and the Eagle IV of Europe's General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), proposed by Marubeni Aerospace. However, the purchase was cancelled after a comprehensive review of the proposals, including an analysis of operational concepts and price increases. In this regard, alternative options are being considered, including commercial vehicles with ballistic protection.
The request for small arms for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces for fiscal 2026 includes 10,000 Type-20 assault rifles worth about 4.4 billion yen. The bid for 66 units of 40mm Type-20 grenade launchers (Beretta GLX160) is 50 million yen. The need for 101 units of 12.7mm machine guns is 1 billion yen. In addition, 167 Carl Gustaf M4 RPGs worth 2.7 billion yen were requested.
The Minimi Mk3 machine gun, the SFP9 pistol and the new G28 sniper rifle were not requested in the draft defense budget for fiscal 2026.
