Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle
| Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle | |
|---|---|
_left_side_view_at_Camp_Fuji_October_5,_2025.jpg) The Type 25 RCV, one of the variants of the CTWV. | |
| Type | Armored fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2024-present |
| Used by | Japan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | TRDI (Technical Research & Development Institute)[note 1] |
| Designed | 2010 - 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Developed from | |
| Unit cost | ¥ 1 billion yen (USD $7.04 million) [note 2] |
| Produced | Since 2024 (serial production) |
| No. built | 3 prototypes as of 2024[2] |
| Variants | |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length | 8.1 to 8.7 m (27 to 29 ft) |
| Width | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Height | 2.7 to 2.9 m (8 ft 10 in to 9 ft 6 in) |
| Crew |
|
| Passengers | 8 (Type 24 AWCV) |
Main armament |
|
Secondary armament | 7.62 mm Mk 52 chain gun (Type 24 AWCV and Type 25 RCV) |
| Engine | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 4VA Diesel 400 kW (540 hp) |
| Power/weight | 29.8 hp/tonne empty |
| Payload capacity | 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) |
| Suspension | Independent Double wishbone suspension or Hydropneumatic suspension |
| Maximum speed | Over 100 km/h (62 mph) |
The Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle (CTWV) is a family of wheeled armored vehicles that are expected to be deployed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). This vehicle is based on the same platform as the Type 16 MCV, and four further variants have been developed, of which three will enter service.
Background
[edit]The CTWV is based on the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MAV (Mobile Armored Vehicle), development of which was initiated in the early 2010s, and was unveiled in 2014 at Eurosatory.[3] It is derived from the Type 16 MCV with which it shared 80% of the components.[4]
In December 2019, the JGSDF ordered prototypes of three new variants of the MAV under the CTWV program: the Type 24 AWCV (Armored Wheeled Combat Vehicle), the Type 24 MM (Mobile 120 mm Mortar), and the Type 25 RCV (Reconnaissance Combat Vehicle).[2] The vehicle family is intended to be deployed alongside the Type 16 MCV, providing fire support and intelligence gathering capabilities.[5]
This family of vehicles has been ordered to equip the Rapid Deployment Regiment of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, able to quickly be deployed in case of an urgent need. A total of 370 armored fighting vehicles of this family are expected to be ordered.[6]
Variants
[edit]Type 24 AWCV (Armored Wheeled Combat Vehicle)
[edit]This variant is a wheeled highly mobile infantry fighting vehicle for the JGSDF.
Type 24 MM (Mobile 120 mm Mortar)
[edit]This variant will be replacement of the 120 mm mortar RT (license-built version of the MO-120 RT). The vehicle has a roof opening system for a Thales 2R2M mortar platform capable of firing in 360°. On the sides, there are storage spaces for the shells and propellant.[7]
Type 25 RCV (Reconnaissance Combat Vehicle)
[edit]This variant is designed to succeed to the Type 87 RCV in the JGSDF. The testing of the prototype was going on in 2023.[8]
Operators
[edit]Future operators
[edit]
Japan (93 ordered as of 2026, 370 planned)- As of 2026, the total order list includes:
- Type 24 AWCV: 42 serial production + 1 prototype[2][9][10]
- Type 24 MM: 24 serial production + 1 prototype[2][9][10]
- Type 25 RCV : 24 serial production + 1 prototype[2][10]
Detailed list of orders
[edit]| Fiscal year | Cost
(¥ billion) |
Variants of the CTWV
Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle |
Notes | ||
| Type 24
Wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle |
Type 24
Mobile 120 mm Mortar |
Type 25
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle | |||
| Target total | – | 150 | 100 | 120 | 370 AFV planned[6] |
| 2027 | – | – | – | – | |
| – | – | – | – | ||
| – | – | – | – | ||
| 2026 | ¥ 9.50 | – | 8 | – | [11] |
| ¥ 27.60 | – | – | 18 | ||
| 2025 | ¥ 22.00 | 18 | – | – | [12] |
| ¥ 8.50 | – | 8 | – | ||
| ¥ 9.10 | – | – | 6 | ||
| 2024 | ¥ 24.20 | 24 | – | – | [2][9] |
| ¥ 8.00 | – | 8 | – | ||
| 2023 | ¥ 0.00 | – | – | – | – |
| 2022 | ¥ 0.00 | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | ¥ 0.00 | – | – | – | – |
| 2020 | ¥ 0.00 | – | – | – | – |
| 2019 | ¥ 2.35 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Prototypes[2] |
| Total | ¥ 111.25
(+ ¥ 0) |
43
(+ 0) |
25
(+ 0) |
25
(+ 0) |
– |
| 93
(+ 0) |
– | ||||
Footnotes
[edit]- ↑ Became the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency in 2015.
- ↑ Unit cost is based on the 2024 budget, with ¥ 24.2 billion for 24 ICV (first serial production order)[1]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Overview of the FY2024 Budget" (PDF).
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Japan to order new combat vehicles in 2024". Janes.com. 13 March 2024. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ↑ "MILITARY TECHNOLOGY: Eurosatory 2014: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fujitsu Photographic Recap". miltechmag.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Why Mitsubishi's Mobile Armored Vehicle Lost The Race". Random Japan Academy. 26 May 2024. Archived from the original on 21 October 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ 陸上自衛隊 広報チャンネル (7 June 2025). 令和７年度富士総合火力演習（ライブ配信チャンネル）. Retrieved 7 July 2026 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 Felstead, Peter (9 September 2024). "JGSDF calls for numerous AFVs within Japanese MoD's largest ever budget request - European Security & Defence". Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ↑ "新型装甲車「24式装輪装甲戦闘車」「24式機動120mm迫撃砲」が登場！ さらに旧式装備にも再び脚光が？ 令和7年度防衛省概算要求が公開". Motor-Fan[モーターファン] (in Japanese). 1 September 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ↑ "Japan tests prototype of new reconnaissance vehicle". Default. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Overview of the FY2024 Budget (Page 23)" (PDF).
- 1 2 3 "Overview of FY2025 Budget" (PDF). January 2025.
- ↑ "Page 16 - Defence budget Japan 2026" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2026.
- ↑ "Page 26 - Defence budget Japan 2025" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2025.
