The Mitsubishi Type 89 is a Japanese infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) that entered service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in 1989. The primary contractor for the project was Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the main subcontractor being Komatsu Limited. There were 58 vehicles in service as of 1999 and a total of 120 produced by 2014 with 300 planned. The main armament of the vehicle is an Oerlikon Contraves 35 millimeter KDE cannon.
The hull was conventionally built in welded steel RHA. A Mitsubishi 600 horsepower 6 SY 31 WA water-cooled diesel engine took place in the hull front left compartment, and the driver was located to the right. It was linked to an automatic transmission with the front drive sprockets. The drivetrain was completed by six doubled rubberized road wheels and rear idler on each side, plus three track return rollers. The tracks were of the central pin model, and the suspensions were individual torsion bars.
Primary armament 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. 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. Underneath the missile launcher is an array of four smoke grenade launchers. The commander has six periscopes that provide all-round coverage.
At the rear of the hull is the main troop compartment that seats seven infantrymen. The troops enter through two large doors which swing open to the side. The troop compartment has seven firing ports: three on the left, one of the right rear exit door, three on the right side. Each of the firing ports is provided with a vision periscope mounted above it. 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.
Mitsubishi Type 89 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
