As of October 17, 2023, according to available information shared by Janes, the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) has granted ¥16.8 billion (equivalent to $112 million) for the acquisition of ten Type 10 Main Battle Tanks and ¥15.1 billion (roughly $100.8 million) for the procurement of 16 Type 19 155mm self-propelled howitzers in its 2024 Defense budget.
The Type 10 Main Battle Tank, recognized as a fourth-generation tank, is a product of Japanese military engineering. Developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, this tank blends traditional design elements with advanced technology. With a wide range of features, the Type 10 MBT is considered among the world’s modern main battle tanks.
The journey of the Type 10 began in 2002 when the Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) of Japan initiated Project TK-X. The goal was to create a fourth-generation main battle tank, with a focus on replacing the aging Type 74 tank, but also the more modern Type 90 tank. Despite its qualities, the Type 90 was considered too heavy by the Japanese army and was therefore limited in its movements by the infrastructure of the road network, although 65% of the main bridges in Japan were considered passable.