Main Battle Tank
Mitsubishi Type 90
The Mitsubishi Type 90 is a Japanese main battle tank built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, in service since 1990. Its 120 mm gun and autoloader were designed to counter Soviet armour on Hokkaido.
Japan|Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesOverview
Development of the Type 90 began in the 1970s, with prototypes built in 1983–85, a first pre-production vehicle in 1989 and acceptance into service in 1990. Its armament is a Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44 smoothbore gun built under licence by Japan Steel Works, fed by an autoloader that allows a crew of three. The tank weighs about 50 t, kept deliberately low for Japanese roads and bridges, and uses a 1,500 hp Mitsubishi 10ZG32WT diesel for a top speed near 70 km/h. Protection is composite ceramic and steel armour.
About 341 Type 90s were built through to the late 1990s and early 2000s, and around 300 remain in service, concentrated in the Hokkaido tank units. The price was about 7.5–8 million USD in the 1990s. It is being succeeded by the lighter, more digital Type 10 of 2010 and is gradually leaving active units for a reserve role. Japan’s arms-export restrictions mean it has never been sold abroad. Its contemporaries include the M1A1 Abrams, Leopard 2 and T-80U.
Key Specifications
Variants
The Type 90 is the original 1990 tank with a 120 mm gun, autoloader and crew of three.
The Type 90 Kyū-maru is the nickname used by Japanese crews for the same tank, meaning “Type 9-0 circle”.
The Type 10 is the lighter, more digital successor that began replacing the Type 90 and older tanks from 2010.
Operators
JapanFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a Type 90 tank cost?
A Mitsubishi Type 90 cost about 7.5–8 million USD in the 1990s, roughly one billion yen per tank. Modern replacement cost would be higher. Newer Japanese tanks such as the Type 10 cost considerably more.
How many Type 90 tanks does Japan have?
Japan has around 300 Type 90 tanks in service out of about 341 built. They are concentrated in the Hokkaido tank units and are being gradually withdrawn.
What gun does the Type 90 have?
The Mitsubishi Type 90 has a 120 mm L/44 smoothbore gun, a Rheinmetall design built under licence by Japan Steel Works. An autoloader feeds it, and the tank carries 40 rounds.
Type 90 vs Type 10: which is better?
The Type 10 is newer, lighter and more digital than the Type 90, with modern networked systems. The Type 90 is heavier at about 50 t, and Japan is replacing it with the Type 10.
Type 90 vs Abrams: how do they compare?
The Type 90 is lighter at about 50 t than the M1A1 Abrams and uses an autoloader with a crew of three, while the Abrams uses a human loader and four crew. They share a 120 mm calibre and are of a similar generation.
Which countries use the Type 90 tank?
Only Japan operates the Mitsubishi Type 90. Japanese arms-export restrictions have prevented any foreign sale, and the tank is used by the Ground Self-Defense Force.