List of modern equipment of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
陸上自衛隊 (Rikujō Jieitai)


Command
Ground Staff Office
Components
Northern Army
North Eastern Army
Eastern Army
Central Army
Western Army
Central Readiness Force
JGSDF Reserve
JGSDF Reserve Candidate

The following is a list of modern equipment currently in service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Uniforms

Name Used by Notes Period used
Camouflage patterns
Type I Camouflage 1st Airborne Brigade, JGSDF Air Defense Artillery Groups Also known as "Old Camo" or "Airborne Camo", it is the first camo scheme adopted by Japan after World War II. It is based on Hokkaido's wilderness(effective in Sasa veitchii field). The shades become distinguishable after wash, and the pattern itself doesn't match to the environment in mainland Japan, leading to the introduction of Type II camouflage. Copied by China in its Experimental PLA Woodland Flecktarn Camouflage. 1970s–1990s (still in limited use in 2014)

Type II Flecktarn camouflage
Currently used by the JGSDF, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japan National Defense Academy cadets, and JASDF Air Rescue Wings Pararescuemen. Second domestically designed pattern. As in the case of the Type I has been copied by China. Made from 50% cotton/50% vinylon or 70% vinylon/30% cotton. The earlier model had anti-IR/flame-resistant fabric, but the latter lacks the feature. 1991–present

Type II brown-dominant winter pattern
JGSDF Darker contrast on Type II Flecktarn camo to fit the color of winter plants. Used on JGSDF Type-2 Camouflage Cold Weather Field Parka and Trousers(防寒戦闘服外衣, 戦闘外被, or shortly 外被). 1991–present

Type III Flecktarn camouflage
Recently adopted by the JGSDF Modified from ''Type II'' pattern with a 50% cotton/50% vinylon or 70% vinylon/30% cotton fabric(depending on the year of contract/manufacturer) and other changes including a change in the front closure, a mandarin collar, Velcro cuffs and pocket lids, wider pen pockets, a loop inside the right chest pocket for ID card chain, two calf storage pockets, and knee pads in the trousers. The back pocket on the trousers has been eliminated. The belt(made from the same fabric) comes with a name tag, unlike the former Type II Combat Uniform/Type II Camouflaged Work Uniform. The Type III Combat Uniform/Type III Camouflaged Work Uniform(戦闘服3型・迷彩作業服3型, or shortly 戦闘服) have the same pattern as the Type II camouflage. Each soldier receives two sets of the Type III Work Uniform after enlisting, and after the boot camp each soldier receives two sets of Type III Combat Uniform, Airborne Uniform or Tank Uniform, depending on the troop where the soldier belongs to. The Combat Uniform and Camouflaged Work Uniform are identical to each other, except for the product tag. Commercial version of the item (100% polyester version, cotton/poli version etc.) is no longer authorized to be used, including the vinylon/cotton fabric version. The use of commercial combat cap in vinylon/cotton fabric is authorized. The commercial versions have slightly different shades. 2007–present

JGSDF Desert Flecktarn camouflage
JGSDF International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit, JGSDF Central Readiness Force Recently adopted by the JGSDF for Middle Eastern deployments. This camo is a desert version of the JGSDF's flectarn pattern. The first unit using this particular camouflage was the Central Readiness Force during the 4th DAPE (Deployment Air Force for Counter-Piracy Operation) in the Gulf of Aden. June 2010–present

(See also List of military clothing camouflage patterns [Asia A-M])

Other equipment
JSDF standard Personal protective equipment (also known semi-officially as Type 00) NBC suit. Produced by Toyobo in cooperation with Nikko research co., Ltd.

See also: Field ration#Asia (Japan)

Type 88 helmet

Infantry weapons

Name Type Quantity Notes Picture
Guns
Standard issue
SCK/Minebea 9mm Pistol Semi-automatic pistol Made under license by Minebea Used with a leather holster or Safariland leg holster.
Minebea 9mm Machine Pistol Machine Pistol Made by Minebea
Howa Type 89 Assault rifle 5.56 x 45mm NATO Made by Howa. Standard issue to front line units. A folding stock version is in production for airborne troops and tank troops (including mortar platoons under recon troops etc.).
Howa Type 64 Battle rifle 7.62 x 51mm NATO Made by Howa. Second line troops only, being replaced by the Type 89.
Sumitomo MINIMI 5.56mm Machine Gun Light machine gun Made under license by Sumitomo. From 1979, over 5,350 underspec MINIMIs were introduced. These MINIMIs often cause malfunctions, for instance requiring to reload after each 6-round shots.
 NTK/Sumitomo Type 62 machine gun General purpose machine gun 7.62 x 51mm NATO   Made by Sumitomo. Weighs 3.3 kilo more than the MINIMI which is replacing it as a SAW. Still used for Infantry support as a Medium machine gun. Also used on vehicles.
 NTK/Sumitomo Type 74 In-vehicle machine gun In-vehicle machine gun   Made by Sumitomo
 Sumitomo M2 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun Heavy Machine gun   Made under license by Sumitomo. Copy of Browning M2.
M24 Sniper Rifle Sniper Rifle Made by Remington Arms. Standard sniper rifle of US Armed Forces.
 Howa Type 64 Sniper Rifle Sniper Rifle Made by Howa. Indifferent adaption of standard battle rifle. Still used by sharpshooter regular troops, but trained snipers now use the M24.
 Howa Type 96 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher Automatic Grenade Launcher   Made by Howa
Type 06 rifle grenade Rifle grenade Made by Daikin
M67 series fragmentation grenade Hand grenade Produced under license by a domestic concern (Daikin?). Still in at least limited service, including training and reserve units.
M18 Claymore mine Directional fragmentation Anti-personnel mine (Command activated) Licensed production by?
 Howa 84RR Recoilless rifle   Made under license by Howa(had been imported from 1978 to 1984, the licensed ones have pouches in Japanese OD color, unlike the original model). Models with wornout parts have an issue of safety lever automatically being located on fire position.
 Nissan/IHI Aerospace 110mm LAM Anti-Tank rocket launcher   Made under license by Nissan/IHI IHI Aerospace
Special forces
 H&K USP Semi-automatic pistol   Only Japanese Special Forces Group.
 H&K MP7 Machine pistol   Only Japanese Special Forces Group.
 M4 carbine Assault rifle   Only Japanese Special Forces Group.
FN SCAR[2] Assault rifle Only Japanese Special Forces Group
Made by FN Herstal. (SCAR is the lower of two weapons shown with optional grenade launcher attached.)
Heckler & Koch G36[3] Assault rifle Only Japanese Special Forces Group
Made by Heckler & Koch
HK417[3] Battle rifle Only Japanese Special Forces Group
Made by Heckler & Koch
 M203 grenade launcher grenade launcher   Only Japanese Special Forces Group.
M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) Anti-Tank rocket launcher (Disposable) Used by 1st Airborne Brigade, WAIR, and Japanese Special Forces Group.
M32A1 multi-shot grenade launcher Grenade launcher Only known to be in use with WAIR.
Mortars
Type 96 Heavy mortar (RT 120mm Mortar) Heavy mortar 430 built under license with the ordnance by howa
L16 81mm Mortar mortar built under license with the ordnance by howa
Hirtenberger M6C-210 Light Mortar
Howitzer
FH-70 Towed Howitzer Howitzer 480 built under license with the ordnance by Japan Steel Works

Missiles

Anti-tank, anti-ship missiles

Surface-to-air missile

Vehicles

Name Type Quantity Notes Picture
Armoured vehicles
Type 10 Main Battle Tank Main Battle Tank 66 built by Mitsubishi
Type 90 Main Battle Tank Main Battle Tank 340 built by Mitsubishi
Type 74 Main Battle Tank Main Battle Tank 280- built by Mitsubishi
Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicl wheeled tank destroyer 36 built by Mitsubishi
Type 89 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Infantry Fighting Vehicle 120 built by Mitsubishi
Type 82 Command and Communication Vehicle[5] Command and Communication Vehicle 231 built by Komatsu
Type 87 Reconnaissance and Warning Vehicle[6] Reconnaissance and Warning Vehicle 111 built by Komatsu
Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle 47 built by Komatsu
Komatsu Light Armored Vehicle Light armored vehicle 1673 built by Komatsu
Type 73 Armored Personnel Carrier Armored personnel carrier 338 built by Mitsubishi
Type 96 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier[7] Armored personnel carrier 365 built by Komatsu
Type 92 Mine Clearance Vehicle (not to be confused with Type 92 mine roller (attachment to multiple vehicle types - see below)). Mine Clearance Vehicle - Equipped with a MCLC system. ? built by Nissan Motor Aerospace division (pre-2000)/IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd./Hitachi
Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle Infantry mobility vehicle (4 on order)
Assault Amphibious Vehicle(AAVP-7A1) Armoured personnel carrier (4 AAVP-7A1s being tested, out of a requirement for 52.)[8]
NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Reconnaissance Vehicle 17(33 on order) built by Komatsu
Artillery
Type 99 155 mm Self-propelled Howitzer Self-propelled artillery 111 built by Mitsubishi/Japan Steel Works
Type 99 Artillery Support Vehicle Ammunition resupply vehicle built by Hitachi
M270 MLRS Multiple rocket launcher 99 built under license with the ordnance by IHI AEROSPACE
M110 Self-propelled Howitzer Self-propelled artillery 91 built under license with the ordnance by Japan Steel Works and Komatsu
Type 87 Artillery Support Vehicle Ammunition resupply vehicle built by Hitachi
Type 96 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar Self-Propelled Mortar 24 Also known as the Gottohanma. Built by Hitachi/Howa[9]
Type 87 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun 52 built by Mitsubishi

Other vehicles

Type 92 mine roller

Aircraft

The JGSDF operates 497 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft (2014).[10]

Name Role Type Number[10] Notes Photo
Fixed-wing aircraft
Beechcraft Super King Air Utility and Liaison LR-2 7
Mitsubishi MU-2 Utility and Liaison LR-1 2
Helicopters
Boeing AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter AH-64DJP 13 Built by Fuji
Bell AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter AH-1S 88 Built by Fuji
Kawasaki OH-1 Scout Helicopter OH-1 38 Up to 112 on order. Replacing the OH-6D fleet.
OH-6D Scout Helicopter OH-6D 106 Built by Kawasaki. Being slowly replaced by the Kawasaki OH-1.
Bell V-22B Osprey Transport Helicopter V-22B 17 Ordered May 2015
Boeing CH-47 Chinook Transport Helicopter CH-47J
CH-47JA
58 Built by Kawasaki
UH-60 Black Hawk Transport Helicopter UH-60JA 34 Most built by Mitsubishi
Bell UH-1 Utility Helicopter UH-1H
UH-1J
153 Built by Fuji
Enstrom 480 Trainer helicopter TH-480B 12 8 on order.
Eurocopter EC 225 VIP Helicopter EC 225LP 3 Replacing the AS332L[11][12]
UAVs
Fuji FFOS & Fuji FFRS Recon UAV Small helicopter UAV. Primarily used as a forward reconnaissance platform for field artillery.[13][14]
Boeing Insitu ScanEagle Recon UAV 1 Delivered by Insitu Pacific[15]
Yamaha R-MAX Recon UAV Small helicopter UAV[16]
Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk Surveillance UAV Apparently in service in some numbers with the Central Readiness Force. Used primarily for hazardous area reconnaissance (e.g. radiation survey).

Historic, retired or reserve equipment

Small arms
JGSDF soldiers in Type 65 work uniforms prepare to fire M31 HEAT rifle grenades during training.
Other equipment
Type 66 helmet
Tanks
Artillery
Anti-tank guided missiles
Anti-aircraft guns
Other armored fighting vehicles
Light and Utility Vehicles
Aircraft

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ration Packs for Japanese Forces Japan Security Watch
  2. http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/gmcc/hoto/hkou/14hk113.pdf
  3. 1 2 http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/gmcc/hoto/hkou/14hk093.pdf
  4. ja:12式地対艦誘導弾 Japanese Wikipedia entry on the Type 12 SSM, Accessed 9 July 2013.
  5. Category:JGSDF Type 82 (CCV) Wikimedia Commons
  6. http://www.military-today.com/apc/type_87.htm
  7. ARG. "Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
  8. http://www.ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201308210037. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. Type 96 entry in the Self-Propelled Howitzers section at Deagel.com
  10. 1 2 "World Air Forces 2014". Flightglobal.com
  11. "Eurocopter Canada - News 04/07/06". Eurocopter.ca. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
  12. EADS Press Release - Japan Defense Agency Received First EC225 In VIP Configuration For The Japanese Emperor’s Royal Flight Service Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. GSDF Fuji School 57th Open Day 2011 [Part Two] Japan Security Watch, 21 August 2011
  14. "Fuji FFOS (Japan), Unmanned helicopters - Rotary-wing - Military". Jane's Information Group. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  15. Insitu Pacific Delivers ScanEagle UAS for the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force - Insitu.com, 14 May 2013
  16. "Yamaha RMAX (Japan), Unmanned helicopters - Rotary-wing - Civil". Jane's Information Group. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  17. 1 2 Licensed by Howa.
  18. Small number of M3s are held in reserve by various JGSDF special forces units.
  19. Type 60 Armoured Personnel Carrier (Military-Today.com)
  20. The World Worlds - Weapons Database Type SU 60
  21. The rise of the Land Cruiser (Go4x4.eu)
  22. 2FQ-15 The Old Land Cruiser Company website
  23. http://www.brian894x4.com/MilitaryFQ15.html Toyota FQ-10 / FQ-15 / HQ-15 (195?-196?), MILITARY TOYOTAS
  24. Fuji LM-1 Nikko kamov.net
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