Type 90 Kyu-Maru MBT

The Type 90 tank was the main battle tank (MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) as of 2011. It was designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for all deployed Type 61 and Type 74 tanks, and entered service in 1990. It is to be superseded by the Type 10 tank.

The profile of the Type 90 is similar to the original German Leopard 2 without the sloped armor, (Leopard 2 to 2A4) but unlike the Leopard 2, the Type 90 uses modular ceramic and steel composite armor, common in contemporary post-1990s tank designs. The adoption of modular composite armor design facilitates the upgrading and exchange of the armor, and its frontal armor is tested to be effective against JM-33 120 mm APFSDS projectiles from the L44 gun, while the side armor of the turret is capable of defeating up to 35 mm APDS (Armor penetration of 90 millimeters of RHA at one kilometer) projectiles.

The Type 90 is smaller than most main battle tanks with a height of 2.33 meters, a width of 3.33 meters, and weighing in at 50.2 tonnes. It was designed with a distinctive low-slung turret with boxy, vertical sides and a long overhanging bustle. In comparison, the Leopard 2A4's dimensions are 2.48 meters high and 3.70 meters with a weight of 55.2 tonnes.

Type 90
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Japan
Production history
Designer	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Designed	1976–1977
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Produced	1989
Number built	341
Specifications
Weight	50.2 tonnes
Length	9.755 m
Width	3.33 m
Height	2.33 m
Crew	3
Armor	Modular ceramic/steel composite armour
Main armament	Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore gun with automatic loader 35 rounds
Secondary armament	M2HB 12.7 mm machine gun 1,500 rounds 7.62mm machine gun Type 74 2,000 rounds
Engine	Mitsubishi 10ZG 10-cylinder, two-stroke cycle Diesel 21500cc 15min output rating: 1500ps/2400rpm (1,120 kW), 4410N･m（450kgf･m)
Power/weight	30 hp/tonne
Transmission	Mitsubishi MT1500 automatic transmission (4 forward gears, 2 reverse gears )
Suspension	hydropneumatic
Operational range	350 km (fuel 1100 L)
Speed	70 km/h (acceleration: 0–200 m in 20 s)

Armament

The Type 90 mounts a licensed copy of the German Rheinmetall L44 120 mm smoothbore cannon product by Japan Steel Works Limited. This is the same gun that is mounted on the German Leopard 2, American Abrams, and the South Korean K1A1 tanks. Before Rheinmetall's gun was selected, Japan has successfully produced a domestic version of the 120 mm smoothbore for testing, but the lower cost of the Rheinmetall's gave it an advantage over the domestic version.

Since its introduction, there have been several upgrades to the fire-control system including the addition of a Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet laser rangefinder with a range of 300 to 5,000 meters, a 32-bit ballistics analysis computer, an improved thermal imaging systems and Automated-tracking systems as well as improved gun stabilization. The FCS also has an automated tracking systems and is capable of engaging moving or stationary targets while moving at day and night. The automatic target tracking system uses a thermal image display which can be controlled by either the tank gunner or commander. It is capable of tracking soldiers, vehicles and helicopters. The targeting computer can also calculate lead on moving targets.

The commander's sight consists of a 3× / 10× (day-only sight). The sight can track vertically from −29 to +29 degrees, as well as track horizontally through 180 degrees. The gunners sight has a 10 x zoom.

The gun is armed and loaded through a mechanical bustle autoloader (conveyer-belt type), developed by Mitsubishi of Japan. The Type 90 tank is the first non-Soviet main battle tank to achieve manpower savings by reducing the crew to three through the development of the turret bustle autoloader (with the exception of the turretless Strv 103). This design allows the tank crew to operate without a loader, which allows the use of a smaller turret. The autoloading can reload in around two seconds, and the practical auto-loading and firing cycle for one target will be around 4–6 seconds.

Mounted in front of the gunner's hatch on the turret is the ubiquitous Browning M2 machine gun, manufactured under license by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, part of the Sumitomo Group. In addition to the .50-caliber machine gun is a Japanese-built 7.62 mm machine gun mounted coaxially to the left of the main gun.

Mobility

The powerpack of the Type 90 tank has the Mitsubishi 10ZG32WT 10 cylinder two stroke cycle diesel engine providing 1500 hp, coupled with Mitsubishi MT1500 automatic transmission with four forward and two reverse gears, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (designated 10ZG32WT, MT1500). The development of the 10ZG32WT prototype was started in 1972 and was finished in 1982. It can attain a top output of 1,120 kW (1,500 horsepower).

The hydropneumatic suspension units are mounted on the front and rear pair of road wheels, which can be adjusted on-the-fly to deal with uneven terrain, a requirement on Japan's rough, mountainous terrain.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense official data report, the acceleration of the type is 0–200 m in 20 seconds.