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Type 16 8x8 MCV (Maneuver Combat Vehicle) - Program

Budget year	procurement
2016	36 cars
2017	33 cars
2018	18 cars
2019	22 cars
total	109 cars

The Type 16th Mobile Combat Vehicle was newly sought as a vehicle to equip the Ground Self-Defense Force, based on the 2004 general outline of the defense plan. In 2007, development costs of 2.6 billion yen were allotted and development began in earnest. It is said that the development will utilize research prototypes for future wheeled combat vehicles and the development technology and results of Type 10 tanks.

2013 (Heisei 25) On October 9th, a prototype vehicle ("Mobile Fighter (Part 4) Mobile Fighter No.1") was reported for the first time at the Land Equipment Research Institute ( Sagamihara City , Kanagawa ), Ministry of Defense Technology Research Headquarters. The 2016 (2016) January 10, in Narashino training grounds prototype in equipment exhibition that took place in the "2016 first Airborne Orchestra drop beginning" ( "maneuver combat vehicle (Part 4) maneuver combat vehicle Car 4 ”) was first released to the public.

The existing equipment of the Self-Defense Forces is type 74 and Type 89 armored fighting vehicles is due to the lack of the air transport properties and road mobility, it can not be quickly deployed to combat zones. On the other hand, 87 Formula reconnaissance vigilance cars and light armored vehicles such as wheeled armored vehicles in, light tanks such as (in the neighboring countries the Chinese People's Liberation Army of the 05 Formula amphibious assault vehicles ( Chinese version ) and 03 Formula airborne infantry combat vehicles,

Russia Federal troops of Supuruto SD Airborne tanks for, etc.) the ability to promptly fire after thermal and target discovery to defeat is insufficient, to the infantry troops fire support is difficult. Other alternatives are equipped with similar combat vehicles in the United States , but none of them meet the required performance (small size, compatibility with current ammunition , expandability, etc.). Also, considering the possibility of reflecting the research results of wheeled combat vehicles in the future, the introduction of this equipment was decided because introduction from other countries is inefficient.

The development of these vehicles was started by the institute in 2008, and in 2014 it was able to complete one prototype. The total cost of development work was about $183 million. It is planned that over two years MCV tests would be conducted in the Japanese self-defense forces, after which it will formally be put into service in 2016 financial year.

The total number of vehicles that are planned to be released is still unknown. It is expected that a tank regiment and a rifle division armed with MCV will be deployed.

In the 2006 policy evaluation document, the deployment destination was an armored unit, but in the 2007 policy evaluation document, it was changed to a combat unit. Ministry of Defense has been published - "defense and the budget of our country (draft) fiscal overview of the 2008 budget." At the time f the defense plan was written as “Development assuming that it does not exceed about 600 cars”. This was thought to be due to the possibility that the actual number of tanks would be further reduced due to the number of Type 16 mobile combat vehicles being included in the tank constants, depending on negotiations with the Ministry of Finance seeking to reduce the budget.

In the Defense Outline, preparations for large-scale landing invasion are kept to a minimum to improve efficiency and rationalization. Tanks units were abolished and tanks equipped by basic operation units located outside Hokkaido and Kyushu and changed from 741 to 300. The policy was to halve the number of tanks and centrally deploy tanks in neighboring Hokkaido and Kyushu, and deploy nationwide mobile combat vehicles that excel on the road for quick and flexible operation. In the 26th mid-term defense, 99 vehicles were procured and the deployment of the Mobile Division ( 6th Division and 8th Division ) and the Mobile Brigade ( 11th and 14th Brigade ) to the Quick Response Mobile Regiment was planned. In addition, the deployment of reconnaissance combat battalions of regional deployment divisions ( 4th division, etc.) that will be expanded after the mobile deployment is planned. In the basic operation unit, it was first deployed to the ready-to- operate mobile regiments newly developed in the 8th Division and 14th Brigade at the end of 2017. In FY2018, one of the 6th Division and 11th Brigade was deployed in the Reacting Battalion of the 4th Division and the Reconnaissance Battle Battalion of the 4th Division.