Japan self-developed 3 military unmanned combat vehicles, the largest 10-ton tracked vehicle exposed

Japan is accelerating the development of military unmanned ground vehicles (UGV). The Defense Equipment Agency (ATLA) recently demonstrated the research and development results of unmanned vehicles in three different weight categories at a technical seminar, covering platforms below 1 ton, 1 to 2 tons, and 5 to 10 tons. The largest of them uses a low-profile crawler body, and its weight is close to that of a light armored vehicle. It may be used to carry heavy sensors, supplies and even weapons in the future, showing that Japan is moving towards independent research and development of multi-purpose military unmanned vehicles.

The military news website "Defence Blog" reported that Yuno Miku, a retired member of the Army and a military commentator, exposed relevant information on

Among them, the smallest one with a load of less than 1 ton adopts a four-set independent track design, with an open cargo frame on top of the vehicle body; the 1 to 2-ton platform adopts a wheel-type configuration, equipped with a flat cargo bed, a roll cage and a body sensor, and looks similar to a multi-purpose transport vehicle.

The 5- to 10-ton platforms that receive the most attention use a low crawler chassis with a large flat load-bearing platform and a device suspected to be a sensor turret. Compared with small robots generally used for supply transportation or demining, this heavy-duty vehicle has greater payload potential and may be further developed into an unmanned platform to support combat missions. However, Japan has not yet announced the actual weapon configuration and specific uses of each type of vehicle.

In addition to the vehicle itself, the display information also revealed that Japan is studying projects such as autonomous positioning, cooperative operation of manned and unmanned vehicles, and the transfer of civilian technology to the military field. It shows that the research and development focus is not only on vehicle mobility capabilities, but also on collaborative technologies required by future unmanned forces.

Michinoku Yuno pointed out that although Japan has long studied unmanned ground vehicles in the past, most of them relied on purchasing foreign systems or converting civilian vehicles for use. The research results disclosed this time may mean that Japan has begun to develop a dedicated unmanned ground vehicle prototype in accordance with its own military needs.

In fact, Japan has previously seen a mysterious Mitsubishi unmanned vehicle suspected of being tested near Mount Fuji. The Ground Self-Defense Force has also used robotic systems in exercises and even put four-legged robot dogs into airborne assault drills. With the gradual advancement of three weight classes of vehicles, Japan may establish an unmanned ground equipment system covering light transportation to heavy mission support in the future.