Japan strengthens Ukraine's mobility with key vehicle delivery
Despite the long distance and complex export regulations, Japan has decided to deliver about a hundred various vehicles and essential protective equipment to Ukraine. It appears that the promised Mitsubishi Type 73-II Light vehicles have already arrived in Ukraine.
A photo of the Japanese off-road vehicle Mitsubishi Type 73 Light in Ukraine surfaced online. This is part of Japan's 2023 commitment to deliver 100 vehicles to the country. The shipment also included the recently highlighted Morooka PC-065B tracked carriers, which are particularly useful on Ukraine's backroads.
It's worth noting that 4x4 vehicles are always in high demand for logistics behind the lines or for transporting personnel away from main roads. While Ukraine still makes considerable use of converted civilian vehicles, those specifically designed for such tasks, like the Mitsubishi Type 73 Light, are always a better choice.
Mitsubishi Type 73-II Light — A versatile off-road vehicle of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces
The Mitsubishi Type 73-II Light is a militarized version of the Mitsubishi Pajero, produced since 1996. It is designed to carry about 1,100 lbs of cargo and is powered by a four-cylinder diesel engine with 125 horsepower.
The vehicles were produced in both unarmored and armored versions, which were used, among other operations, by the Japanese humanitarian battalion in Iraq (Jietai Iraku Fukkou Shiengun) during the Second Gulf War. It is possible that these very units, capable of protecting against small arms fire or artillery shrapnel, were delivered.
Interestingly, the Mitsubishi Type 73-II Light can, if necessary, be equipped with weaponry such as a heavy machine gun like the Browning M2 or a machine gun from the FN Minimi family.
