Japan has rolled out its first Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV), marking the beginning of a new era for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). The new vehicle will gradually replace the Type-96 armored personnel carriers, which have been in service for decades. The send-off event was hosted at the Muroran Plant of Japan Steel Works, the domestic production partner licensed by Finland’s Patria.
The first vehicle will be delivered to the JGSDF this fiscal year, while local production is set to begin in September 2025. The rollout follows a 2023 licensing agreement in which the inaugural unit was built in Finland before domestic assembly begins. The JGSDF stated that the AMV XP 8×8 provides “exceptional mobility and protective capabilities,” ensuring personnel safety in high-threat conditions.
The AMV XP measures 8.1 meters in length, 2.8 meters in width, and 2.4 meters in height. With a payload of 15,000 kilograms and a combat weight of 32,000 kilograms, the vehicle is built for demanding missions. It can exceed 100 kilometers per hour and sustain long-range operations of up to 1,000 kilometers.
Equipped with modular armor systems, the platform is designed to withstand ballistic fire, mines, and improvised explosive devices. The JGSDF further emphasized its potential role in peacekeeping, adding that the vehicle’s versatility and resilience make it valuable for international operations as well as homeland defense.
