The Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle (CTWV) is a family of wheeled armoured vehicles that are expected to be deployed by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force. This vehicle is based on the same platform as the Type 16 manoeuvre combat vehicle, and four further variants have been developed, of which three will enter service.
| Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle | |
|---|---|
| Type | Armoured fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | TRDI (Technical Research & Development Institute)[note 1] |
| Designed | 2010 - 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Developed from | Type 16 maneuver combat vehicle |
| Unit cost | ¥ 1 billion yen (USD $7.04 million) [note 2] |
| Produced | Since 2024 (serial production) |
| No. built | 3 prototypes as of 2024[2] |
| Variants | |
Background
editThe CTWV is based on the MAV (Mitsubishi Armoured Vehicle), which development was initiated in the early 2010s, and was unveiled in 2014 at Eurosatory.[3] It is derived from the Type 16 from which it shared 80% of the components.[4]
The vehicles in service that will be replaced by the new vehicles will be stored. The Japan government plans an important budget to store and preserve the vehicles, as well as keep and maintain the spare equipment. It is a change in the policy, as up to now, the JGSDF tended to dismantle and scrap the existing equipment.[5]
Type 96 successor
editThis vehicle base was initially developed for the "Improved Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier" programme, as a successor of the Type 96 armoured personnel carrier.
In January 2018, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries received a contract for the construction of a prototype of the "Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle System Design A", a variant based on the Type 16 manoeuvre combat vehicle.[6][7] In February 2018, a contract was signed with Komatsu Ltd. for the "Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle System Design B" prototype, a variant of the NBC reconnaissance vehicle.[7]
Initially, the offer by Komatsu was selected, but due to problems with the armour and other elements, the programme was cancelled.[7]
A new programme for the replacement of the Type 96 was put in place, and is known as the "next generation armoured vehicle". The main variant will be an armoured personnel carrier, but there will also by command-and-control vehicles, armoured ambulances, logistics support vehicles and engineer variants.[7] The offers made for this programme include:
- MAV (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), the APC variant of the Common tactical wheeled vehicle[7]
- Patria AMVXP[7]
- LAV 6.0 by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and Sojitz Aerospace[7]
The offer of GDLS was dropped because it was incapable to provide a prototype for testing in the timeline required by the JSDF. During the testing the Patria AMVXP proved its superiority and it was selected in December 2022.
CTWV programme
editIn December 2019, the JSDF ordered prototypes of three new variants of the MAV under the "Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle" programme:[2]
- ICV - Infantry combat vehicle
- RCV - Reconnaissance combat vehicle
- MMCV - Manoeuvre Mortar combat vehicle
This family of vehicles has been ordered to equip the Mobile Rapid Response Regiment of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, able to quickly be deployed in case of an urgent need. A total of 370 armoured fighting vehicles of this family are expected to be ordered.[8]
ICV - Infantry combat vehicle
editThis variant is a wheeled highly mobile infantry fighting vehicle for the JGSDF.
RCV - Reconnaissance combat vehicle
editThis variant is designed to succeed to the Type 87 RCV in the JGSDF. The testing of the prototype was going on in 2023.[9]
MMCV - Manoeuvre Mortar combat vehicle
editThis variant will be one of the successors to the tracked Type 96 120 mm self-propelled mortar. The vehicle has a roof opening system for a Thales 2R2M mortar platform firing at 360°. On the sides, there are storage spaces for the shells and for the propellers.[5]
Specifications of the variants
edit| Parameters | MAV
Mitsubishi armoured vehicle |
ICV
Infantry combat vehicle |
MMCV
Mortar mobile combat vehicle |
RCV
Reconnaissance combat vehicle |
| Role | ||||
| Role | Armoured personnel carrier | Infantry fighting vehicle | Mortar carrier | Reconnaissance vehicle |
| Length | 8.00 m (26.25 ft) | 8.10 m (26.6 ft) | 8.10 m (26.6 ft) | 8.70 m (28.5 ft) |
| Height (hull) | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) | — | 2.70 m (8.9 ft) | — |
| Height (with turret) | — | 2.90 m (9.5 ft) | — | 2.90 m (9.5 ft) |
| Width | 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | |||
| Mass | ||||
| Empty | 18 t (40,000 lb) | — | — | — |
| Payload | 10 t (22,000 lb) | — | — | — |
| GVW (max) | 28 t (62,000 lb) | 26 t (57,000 lb) | ||
| Weapon System / Mission Equipment | ||||
| Crew + passengers | 2 + 9 | 3 + 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Main mission equipment | RCWS | Unmanned turret with | Thales 2R2M | Manned turret |
| 40 mm grenade launcher or a heavy / general purpose machine gun | Mk44 Bushmaster II (30×173mm) autocannon
Mk52 Bushmaster coaxial machine gun (7.62×51mm NATO) |
Rifled Recoiled Mounted Mortar 120 mm | Mk44 Bushmaster II (30×173mm) autocannon
Mk52 Bushmaster coaxial machine gun (7.62×51mm NATO) | |
| — | 10TanK NetWork (10TKNW) network | 10TanK NetWork (10TKNW) network | Elbit Systems MRSS (Multi-Sensor Reconnaissance and Surveillance System)
10TanK NetWork (10TKNW) network | |
| Vehicle performances | ||||
| Max speed | > 100 km/h (62 mph) | |||
| Power train | ||||
| Engine | MHI 4VA
(11.3 litres, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel) | |||
| Engine performances | Power 530 hp (400 kW) | Power 570 hp (430 kW) | ||
| Power / mass ratio | 18.9 hp/t (14.1 kW/t) at GVW | 21.9 hp/t (16.3 kW/t) at GVW | ||
| Driveline | All-wheel drive with diff-lock | |||
Operators
editFuture operators
edit
Japan (35 ordered as of 2024, 450 target)- As of 2024, the total order list includes:
- ICV - Infantry combat vehicle: 18 serial production + 1 prototype[2][11]
- MMCV - Manoeuvre Mortar combat vehicle: 8 serial production + 1 prototype[2][11]
- RCV - Reconnaissance combat vehicle: 1 prototype[2]
Failed bids
edit- Japan
- Competition lost for the replacement of the Type 96 APC against the Patria AMVXP.[12]
Detailed list of orders
edit| Fiscal year | Cost
(¥ billion) |
Variants of the CTWV
Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle |
Notes | ||
| ICV
Infantry combat vehicle |
MMCV
Mortar mobile combat vehicle |
RCV
Reconnaissance combat vehicle | |||
| Target total | – | 150 | 100 | 120 | 370 AFV planned[8] |
| 2025 | – | 18 | 8 | 6 | [5] |
| 2024 | ¥ 24.20 | 24 | – | – | [2][11] |
| ¥ 8.00 | – | 8 | – | [2][11] | |
| 2023 | ¥ 0.00 | – | – | – | – |
| 2022 | ¥ 0.00 | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | ¥ 0.00 | – | – | – | – |
| 2020 | ¥ 0.00 | – | – | – | – |
| 2019 | ¥ 2.35 | 1 | 1 | 1 | [2] |
| Total | ¥ 34.55 | 25 | 9 | 1 | – |
| 35 | – | ||||
Footnotes
edit- ^ Became the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency in 2015.
- ^ Unit cost is based on the 2024 budget, with ¥ 24.2 billion for 24 ICV (first serial production order)[1]
References
edit- ^ "Overview of the FY2024 Budget" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Japan to order new combat vehicles in 2024". Janes.com. 13 March 2024. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Technology, Military. "MILITARY TECHNOLOGY: Eurosatory 2014: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fujitsu Photographic Recap". Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ a b Academy, Random Japan (26 May 2024). "Why Mitsubishi's Mobile Armored Vehicle Lost The Race". Random Japan Academy. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "新型装甲車「24式装輪装甲戦闘車」「24式機動120mm迫撃砲」が登場！ さらに旧式装備にも再び脚光が？ 令和7年度防衛省概算要求が公開". Motor-Fan[モーターファン] (in Japanese). 1 September 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "Supply contracts - Japanese armed forces". 2 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Team, ESD Editorial (1 February 2023). "Japan's Wheeled Vehicle Programmes Race for the Finish Line". Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Felstead, Peter (9 September 2024). "JGSDF calls for numerous AFVs within Japanese MoD's largest ever budget request - European Security & Defence". Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "Japan tests prototype of new reconnaissance vehicle". Default. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ "New wheeled armored vehicle by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries". 4 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Overview of the FY2024 Budget (Page 23)" (PDF).
- ^ "Japan selects Patria's AMV XP for WAPC replacement | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 10 November 2024.