Combat vehicles / Main battle tanks / Type 90
Type 90
General Facts
- TYPE
Main battle tank - ORIGIN
Japan - NICKNAMES
Type 90 Ky?-maru-shiki-sensha (nickname) - DESIGNED
1976 - 1977 - DESIGNER
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - PRODUCTION
1989 - 2010 - PRODUCERS
Japan - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - QUANTITY
A total of 341 produced, production complete. - UNIT COST
$ 7.4 million in 2008 - CHARACTERISTICS
Powerful armament
High rate of fire
Well armored
Good mobility
Very expensive
Introduction
The Type 90 is a main battle tank of Japanese origin. It was developed to supplement and replace the Type 74 in Japanese service. Externally the Type 90 looks similar to the original Leopard 2, however, the design is actually very different.
Layout
The Type 90 looks rather similar to the German Leopard 2 but is not a direct copy since it has a variety of distinguishing features. These differences include an autoloader and hydropneumatic suspension. The overall layout is conventional with the driver in the front, the turret in the middle and the engine and drivetrain at the rear.
Firepower
The main armament is a 120mm smoothbore cannon which fires NATO standard ammunition. The 120mm cannon is connected to an automatic loader. In theory the gun can be fired every 2 seconds, but in practice maximum rate of fire is 10 to 15 rpm. A 7.62mm Type 74 machine gun is mounted as a coaxial weapon. A 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun is pintle mounted on the turret roof.
Protection
The Type 90 features composite armor which generates a protection level over the frontal arc capable of withstanding all but the latest sabots and missiles. A fire suppression system, NBC protection and smoke grenade launchers are fitted.
Mobility
The tracked chassis provides a good all terrain mobility and road speeds of up to 70 km/h. A 1.500 hp diesel engine provides propulsion. The hydropneumatic suspension provides good crew comfort and a stable firing platform in rough terrain.
Users
The Type 90 is used only by Japan. Over 340 Type 90 have been produced and it has replaced the Type 61 and Type 74 tanks. As with all Japanese military equipment there are no export sales. The Type 10 is to supplement and eventually replace the Type 90 in service.
Type 90
Type 90: The Type 90 was produced only in a single version. Externally it looks similar to the Leopard 2A4. The most distinct difference is that the Type 90 has 6 roadwheels and a hydropneumatic suspension that allows either front or rear to be lowered.
- Specifications:
- Type 90
Type | Main battle tank |
---|---|
Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
Length | 7.5 m (hull), 9.76 m (gun forward) |
Width | 3.43 m |
Height | 2.34 m (turret roof), 3.05 m (overall) |
Ground clearance | 0.45 m |
Weight | 50.2 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 0.89 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 6 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 4.55 m length, 0.60 m width, 2.71 m track |
Turn radius | pivot |
Engine | Mitsubishi 10ZG32WT 10-cylinder diesel, 1.500 hp at 2.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 29.9 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Mitsubishi MT1500 automatic transmission, 4 forward, 2 reverse |
Speed | 70 km/h forward, 42 km/h reverse |
Fuel | 1.100 L |
Range | 400 km |
Wall | 1 m |
Trench | 2.7 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient, 40% slope |
Fording | 2 m |
Armor | Modular ceramic and steel composite armor |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x3 or 2x4 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 1x 120mm L/44 cannon 7.62mm Type 74 coaxial machine gun 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun |
Weapon1 | 120mm L/44 cannon 16 rounds ready to fire -5 to +80° elevation, powered 360° traverse, powered stabilized in both axis |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm Type 74 machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament |
Weapon3 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun on pintle mount 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Type 90 ARV
Type 90: The Type 90 armored recovery vehicle is based on the chassis of the Type 90 main battle tank. Instead of a turret it features a 25 t crane and a fixed superstructure for the crew. A winch is fitted and there is a dozer blade that doubles as an earth anchor.
- Specifications:
- Type 90 ARV
Type | Armored recovery vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 4 (commander, driver, 2 operators) |
Length | 8 m |
Width | 3.4 m |
Height | ? |
Ground clearance | 0.45 m |
Weight | ? |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 6 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 4.55 m length, 0.60 m width, 2.71 m track |
Turn radius | pivot |
Engine | Mitsubishi 10ZG32WT 10-cylinder diesel, 1.500 hp at 2.400 rpm |
Power ratio | ? |
---|---|
Transmission | ? |
Speed | 70 km/h |
Fuel | ? |
Range | ? |
Wall | ? |
Trench | ? |
Gradient | ? |
Fording | ? |
Armor | Steel |
NBC equipment | ? |
Night vision | ? |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x3 or 2x4 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | Winch, 25 t crane, dozer blade |
Armament | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun |
Weapon1 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun on pintle mount 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |