Japan sends crucial mine-clearing vehicles to aid Ukraine

Japan has not decided to provide Ukraine with weapons. Still, it supplies other crucial means, such as medicines, communication systems, and mine-clearing equipment, such as Nikken BM307-V16 vehicles. Here, we present the performance of these heavy vehicles delivered to Ukraine by Japan.

Japan, despite the great distance separating it from Ukraine, has been actively supporting Kyiv since the beginning of the Russian invasion. This may be related to the fact that Japan is still formally at war with Russia, which has occupied the Kuril Islands since the end of World War II, as a peace treaty has not been concluded between the two countries.

However, due to restrictions on arms exports, Japanese aid to Ukraine has so far been limited primarily to protective equipment such as bulletproof vests, helmets, and small drones.

The second significant donation from Tokyo included a mix of 100 Toyota High Mobility Vehicles, Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Vehicles, and Morooka tracked carriers. Now, six Nikken BM307-V16 mine-clearing vehicles are joining this group, with a total of 22 expected to be delivered.

The Nikken BM307-V16 system is specialized mine-clearing equipment based on the Hitachi ZX160 excavator, developed to meet the need for equipment to assist in demining Cambodia.

The Japanese company Nikken utilizes Hitachi ZX160 excavators weighing around 37,500 pounds as a base for modifications, including armoring the operator's cabin with armored steel plates and bulletproof glass. This increases the weight to 41,900 pounds, but with a mine roller mounted on the boom, it becomes easy-to-use and maintains equipment that any excavator operator can handle.

The Japanese highlighted that the machine could withstand 22 pounds of TNT explosion. This is more than contained in the extremely popular TM62 anti-tank mine in Ukraine, capable of seriously damaging or destroying tanks. For this reason, the Japanese delivery of mine-clearing equipment is a very significant help to Ukraine, whose vast areas in front-line regions are heavily mined.