Japan's Mitsubishi unveils unmanned IFV concept

The JGSDF has operated about 60 manned Type 89 IFVs since the late 1980s. (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has designed a new unmanned tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), the company has confirmed to Janes.

The company unveiled a 3D image of the concept vehicle, which appears to be based on MHI's Type 89 IFV, at the DSEI Japan 2025 show held in Chiba from 21 to 23 May, a company spokesperson told Janes on 29 May.

“The armoured combat vehicle exhibited [as a] 3D model … is an image of a future unmanned vehicle,” the spokesperson said.

He said the concept vehicle's weapons and systems were not yet determined. He added that the vehicle has been designed by MHI for no specific procurement programme yet announced by Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD).

“There are no fixed devices or functions to be installed,” the spokesperson said, in reference to vehicle systems. “There is also no fixed method of procurement from the Ministry of Defense in Japan.”

Japan's manned Type 89 IFV has been in service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) since 1989 to support the service's Type 90 main battle tank (MBT), which is also produced by MHI.

The baseline Type 89's primary armament is a 35 mm L/90 KDE cannon, manufactured by German company Rheinmetall, which can fire at a maximum effective range of 4,000 m. The IFV can fire two Jyu-MAT medium-range wire-guided anti-tank missiles.

The Jyu-MAT, manufactured by Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), is a manportable, anti-tank guided missile system. It employs semi-automatic command to line-of-sight guidance for the missile.

For more information on MHI, please see Japan's biggest defence firms post financial gains .