Japan's tanks get cage makeovers in fight against drones
Like other armed forces worldwide, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujō Jieitai) is closely observing the war in Ukraine and experimenting with various strategies. One such strategy involves outfitting tanks with cages, as seen on Type 90 and Type 10 models.
Photos have surfaced online showing Japan's Type 90 and Type 10 tanks during tests at a training ground on the island of Hokkaido. They highlight these tanks equipped with a familiar "roof" on their turrets, a feature inspired by the war in Ukraine. While this solution doesn't offer protection against modern anti-tank weapons, it can be helpful against small explosives dropped by drones.
Against FPV drones, however, this setup is unlikely to be effective. The roof, according to the photos, is mounted about 3 feet above the tank's roof, leaving ample room on the sides for a drone to slip underneath.
Roofs on Japanese tanks — a desperate method against drones
It's worth noting that these roofs, often multi-layered, were first used by the Russians in 2022 as a defense against FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles. While ineffective against such missiles, they might provide some advantage against light anti-tank charges, such as bomblets or older anti-tank grenades dropped vertically.
This is the type of arsenal that FPV drones or bombing drones, collectively known as "Baba Yaga," can carry. For instance, detonating a PG-7VL grenade, which can pierce 20 inches of armor steel, a meter from the armor, significantly reduces its effectiveness. This way, the top armor of the tank, usually the weakest point, may withstand such a hit. There's also a chance that the grenade could be caught in the mesh without exploding or might bounce off.
The downside is the significant reduction in camouflage capabilities and potentially increased difficulty in exiting the tank or operating the Browning M2 heavy machine gun on top of the turret.
Overall, this is a desperate, last-resort measure against bombing drones. However, during this research phase, a more dedicated solution is likely being developed to combat drones. For example, the South Korean K2 tank, showcased at the MSPO 2024 trade fair, featured an active defense system and a remotely controlled turret for drone engagement.
Type 90 and Type 10 tanks - the armored core of the Self-Defense Forces
The Type 90 tank, introduced into service in 1990, is conceptually similar to the Leopard 2 but modified locally. These modifications include the use of an autoloader in the turret's niche, akin to the French Leclerc, allowing for a crew reduction to three soldiers and facilitating a smaller turret design.
This results in a heavily protected machine weighing 55 tons. Notably, the main armament is a licensed 120 mm caliber cannon from Rheinmetall, also used in other Western tanks.
The Type 10, in service since 2012, can be thought of as a digitized, lighter version of the Type 90, shedding about 6 tons. Its advanced digitization greatly enhances battlefield efficiency, and the reduced weight enables compatibility with most Japanese bridge infrastructure. Interestingly, this weight reduction did not compromise protection, which is supposedly superior to the Type 90’s.
