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Type 89 IFV


Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) [ 1989 ]



The Mitsubishi Type 89 continues to serve in the infantry fighting vehicle role for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force today.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/20/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]
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In keeping with developments in the West, the island nation of Japan moved to adopt a modern Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) for its Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). Work on a new vehicle began in 1980 to which four prototypes were delivered by 1984. Testing continued into 1986 and the requisite trials for the JGSDF followed, resulting in the design being adopted in 1989 as the "Type 89". While approximately 300 vehicles formed the original requirement, actual needs and budget have allowed for some 68 vehicles to be produced in all. Manufacture is headed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and supported by Komatsu.

As a whole, the Type 89 borrows much of the form and function of what has made the various notable Western-designed IFVs successful in modern combat. It features a shallow profile with low-set superstructure promoting a broad, nearly horizontal glacis plate at the front. The upper portions of the hull side are slightly angled inwards for some ballistics protection. The hull roof is flat which allows for additional external storage areas, passenger access hatches and unobstructed traversal from the two-man powered turret. The turret is centrally located along the hull roof with excellent views about the entire vehicle.

As an infantry fighting vehicle, the Type 89 is designed to ferry combat-ready personnel to the frontlines and, once the infantry has been disembarked, continue the fight in a supporting role (hence some vehicles of the class referred to as "infantry combat vehicles"). As such, the design incorporates good road speeds as well as cross-country performance. The Type 89 provides its occupants with firing ports along the vehicle's sides allowing them to engage enemies with personal weapons in defense of the vehicle. The onboard crew is made up of three - the driver, commander and gunner. The driver is seated at the front-right of the hull with the engine to his right and the commander and gunner reside in the turret. An NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection kit is standard as is night vision equipment for fighting in low-light/dark settings. The passenger cabin is accessed through a pair of entry doors located at the rear of the hull. In this way, the vehicle's bulk and armor protects outgoing infantry. Armor protection is of steel.

Primary armament is the 35mm Oerlikon autocannon fitted to the turret. This is supplemented by an anti-infantry 7.62mm Type 74 machine gun in a coaxial mounting (alongside the main gun in the turret). To counter the threat of enemy armor, the vehicle is outfitted with 2 x Anti-Tank, Guided Missile (ATGM) launchers (of the Type 79 Jyu-MAT series). A launcher is fitted to each turret side. The vehicle can enact it own smokescreen to cover its movement or retreat by way of 2 x 4 smoke grenade dischargers. The dischargers are seated in two banks of four grenades to either turret side.

The Type 89 design relies on power from the Mitsubishi Type 6SY31 WA diesel-fueled, liquid-cooled engine developing 600 horsepower. The engine, powerpack and track arrangement allow for a maximum road speed of 70 kmh with a road range out to 400 kilometers. These performance qualities allow the Type 89 to keep pace with modern combat tanks and similar tracked or wheeled armored vehicles. A torsion bar suspension system provides the needed cross-country capabilities. The track-and-wheel arrangement is made up of six double-tired road wheels to a hull side with a front-mounted drive sprocket and rear-mounted track idler. Some protection along the hull sides is provided through bolt-on skirt armor panels. The vehicle exhibits an overall weight of 27,000 kilograms, a length of 6.7 meters, a height to turret top of 2.75 meters and a width of 3.2 meters.

As of November 2013, the Type 89 maintains an active presence in the modern JGSDF inventory. Heading into 2015, some 120 have been delivered.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
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Specifications



Service Year
1989

Origin
Japan national flag graphic
Japan

Crew
3
CREWMEN
Production
120
UNITS


Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / Komatsu - Japan
(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of modern Japan Japan
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Infantry Support
Support allied ground forces through weapons, inherent capabilities, and / or onboard systems.


Length
22.0 ft
6.7 m
Width
10.5 ft
3.2 m
Height
9.0 ft
2.75 m
Weight
59,525 lb
27,000 kg
Tonnage
29.8 tons
MEDIUM
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Type 89 IFV production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)
Powerplant: 1 x Mitsubishi Type 6SY31 WA water-cooled, 6-cylinder diesel-fueled engine developing 600 horsepower at 2,000rpm driving conventional track-and-wheel arrangement.
Speed
43.5 mph
(70.0 kph)
Range
248.5 mi
(400.0 km)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Type 89 IFV production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)
1 x 35mm KDE (Oerlikon) autocannon.
2 x Type 79 Jyu-MAT anti-tank, wire-guided missile launchers.
1 x 7.62mm Type 74 coaxial machine gun.
2 x 4 Smoke Grenade Dischargers.


Supported Types


Graphical image of a tank automatic cannon
Graphical image of a tank anti-tank guided missile
Graphical image of a tank medium machine gun
Graphical image of tank /armored vehicle smoke grenade dischargers


(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
550 x 35mm projectiles (estimated).
4 x Type 79 AT missiles (estimated).
1,000 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated).
8 x Smoke Grenades.


Type 89 - Base Series Designation


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Images Gallery



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Image of the Type 89 IFV
Image released to the Public Domain by Wikipedia user Los688.


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