Well all talks about new ATGM on IFV is theory and guessing but I think both is wrong. Most likely it would be Type 01 LMAT.
About Type 87. There is some problems like low range can be seen (only 2km). Afaik this missiles is used in JSDF as infantry anti-tank units and seted on light vehicles like Type 73. And problem with the fact you need to track target all the time. The laser point targeting needs special targeting system equipped on vehicle. Also missiles is pretty old by the way.
About MMPM. I think this missiles is useless on an IFV because the vehicle is not capable of realizing the full potential of this missile.
MMPM and Type 01 both use an uncooled IR seeker and this fact limits the acquisition range to about 4-5 km (these are even optimistic figures). Yes their seekers are different but still the difference in range will be small.
The range of the MMPM is about 10 km while the range of the Type 01 is about 4 km.
The most important thing is that the maximum range of the MMPM is achieved either by launching according to radar coordinates and flying according to the INS using target search system or by a laser point (LOBL modes)
In a normal scenario IFVs do not interact with laser targeting units and I also doubt that anyone will install laser targeting systems on IFVs. Therefore, the missile cannot be used with laser seeker.
Of course the IFV will not have a radar either.
It follows that the MMPM is a much cooler missile than the Type 01 but the IFV can only use them from the same distance and with the same effective. Meanwhile the MMPM is many times more expensive due to two seekers, as well as a modern INS and target detection system.
And to be honest IFV doesn’t need to operate missiles with 10km range.
Therefore the use of the Type 01 looks to be the most effective and cost-effective.
Yeahh, that makes a lot of sense considering that Type 79 is literally a “Heavy” ATGM (and has more range and killing power), since it’s also meant to take out landing craft. If they wanted to install the Type 87 on the Type 89 IFV originally they would’ve done it, but they probably didn’t for the reasons you stated. So I’m probably wrong about that.
However, I’m a bit puzzled by why the MMPM cannot be used on the Type 89. It achieving 10 km range would be nice, but isn’t necessary since Spike LR2 has a range just over 5 km. Spike LR2 also has a range of 10km if launched from helicopters. Plus, the MMPM would replace the Type 79’s “heavy MAT” role in also being able to kill landing craft, which is important for the defense of Japan. Type 01 LMAT couldn’t really take on landing craft.
And regarding MMPM’s guidance, if laser homing is problematic, then perhaps they can just go with the single seeker utilizing infrared guidance. If they produce more MMPM for the new Type 89, the unit cost should lower…
But hey, maybe it really will be Type 01 LMAT, you never know
Just design a new vehicle already, I can guess what they try to achieve in this project, they want to cut cost from using old turret. But this won’t work because eventually they still have to change the turret, so just design a new vehicle and take what still can be used from type 89 and install to the new vehicle
Is there any proof it was a prototype though? As an English speaker I translated it with Google, and although there might have been an error or two, it seemed pretty vague on what form this vehicle actually took.
I did however read about a different Na-To variant in your linked page, one armed with a 75mm Type II cannon rather than the Type I. This would offer improved penetration and the Type 4 Kou round.
I mean… they’re both IFVs designed by the Japanese. They’re gonna look pretty similar to eachother. Not like they really need to change much anyway. I’d be more surprised if it looked noticeably different.
The biggest concern for me would be to improve its protection. If you look closely the new chassis seems to have an additional plate on its upper nose plate, which is good. The sides may have composite plates, but I am not sure. I’m hoping they continue to add more armor.
So yeah, they are gonna look similar. However, if there was any substantial changes internally, or to the armor, I feel like you’d be able to easily spot it. I suspect the image above is just preliminary and not at all final. Maybe we’ll see a Type 89 with ERA/NERA soon!
Hopefully. But the JGSDF is the lowest priority of the three branches, and upgrading their equipment is the lowest of the GSDFs concerns. To be totally honest I wouldn’t be shocked if they end up cancelling the new IFV in favor of just stringing the unmodified Type 89 along another decade.
The first thing i noticed was the new hull side armor is no longer sloped, lacking of a second hatch behind the driver, three air intake grills like Type 16, equipped with a driver’s night vision camera.
Looking at it from the back, there are no longer any doors like the Type 89, and the passengers seem to get in and get out through a ramp. The rear top doors no longer exist aswell. Note a rear camera.
Unlike the Type 89 with its turret mounted towards the rear, the new chassis has the turret mounted in the center which i really appreciated (i hate rear-mounted turrets).
Interestingly in this diagram, the word add-on armor has been censored.
It also seems like there is a front facing camera next to the headlight.
Overall i like this hull design much better than the Type 89, it looks sleek and compact. And as mentioned, big fan of the turret ring in the center, this thing would look sick with a Type 24 turret but it would be better with a Type 89 turret given the presence of ATGMs and not having to deal with terrible turret ammo racks (from a gameplay perspective).
