The Ministry of Defense of Japan has delivered a batch of automotive equipment to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Embassy of Japan in Ukraine mentioned that the support from Japan will continue into the next year.
"On December 21, several vehicles from the Ministry of Defense of Japan arrived for the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the embassy stated.
The Ukrainian defense forces received Mitsubishi Type 73 Kogata vehicles. The off-road vehicles, Mitsubishi Type 73 2nd generation, are developed based on the civilian platform of the 1996 Mitsubishi Pajero. Currently, production takes place at two Mitsubishi plants in Gifu and Aichi.
The vehicle, produced from 1996 to 2014, utilized a 2.8-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine, the 4M40, with a power output of 125 horsepower. Starting from 2014, it began to feature a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine, the 4N15, with the same power output of 125 horsepower. The transmission is a 4-speed automatic, with full-time four-wheel drive. The maximum speed is 125 km/h, and the payload capacity is 440 kg.
The vehicle can be equipped with a Minimi machine gun or a 12.7 mm Browning. Within the Ground Self-Defense Force, the off-road vehicle is used as a command vehicle for commanders and officers.
Additionally, another truck in the fleet can be seen with an engineering tracked dump produced by Morooka, model PC-065B.
These machines are employed by engineering units of the Ground Self-Defense Force for fortifying positions, clearing territories, and transporting various loads. It is equipped with a manipulator for lifting different types of cargo.
The maximum speed of the vehicle is 20 km/h, and its payload capacity is 3 tons. Utilizing composite off-road tracks, the dump truck can navigate challenging terrains.
Due to its compact dimensions and a weight of 5 tons, it can be transported by 3-ton Type 73 trucks.