Japan has unveiled its first mass-produced Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV), developed to replace the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s (JGSDF) aging Type-96 personnel carriers.
The send-off ceremony took place at the Muroran Plant of Japan Steel Works, attended by the JGSDF Chief of Staff. The vehicle is being manufactured domestically under license from Finnish defense company Patria, which was selected in 2022.
The first unit will be delivered to the JGSDF this fiscal year. According to the service, the platform offers superior mobility, protection, and adaptability, making it suitable not only for troop transport in hostile conditions but also for international peacekeeping missions.
The JGSDF chose the Patria AMV XP 8×8, with Japan Steel Works signing a licensing agreement with Patria in 2023. While the first unit was assembled in Finland, full-scale production in Japan will begin by September 2025.
The AMV XP measures 8.1 meters long, 2.4 meters high, and 2.8 meters wide. It has a combat weight of 32,000 kilograms and a payload capacity of 15,000 kilograms. The vehicle can exceed speeds of 100 kilometers per hour, with an operational range between 800 and 1,000 kilometers. Its modular armor system protects against ballistic threats, mines, and improvised explosive devices.
