Thread by @Trotes936897

Today we will talk about the Type 10, the most advanced MBT ever put into production in Japan.

Big thread 🧵

In the 90's the Japanese saw the need for a more modern vehicle to replace the Type 74 as a lighter tank capable of being moved wherever the JSDF needed it, unlike the type 90 which had a more limited area of operation due to its weight

The vehicle should be light as the Type 74 but be as lethal or more lethal than the Type 90, which was the JSDF's most powerful MBT at the time. so in 1996 the technical research headquarters began working on a new vehicle.

For testing new technologies such as third generation FLIR, new cannon, C4I more in the mid-2000s, the TKX-0006 (a Type 90 prototype) received modifications to serve as a TTB and was called "test bed for future tank"

There was no cannon or armor on this vehicle as it was made for testing new electronic systems and one cool thing is that the gunner and driver sat in the hull next to each other. Yes, the possibility of an unmanned turret for the type 10 was considered.

This TTB later received a turret equipped with the new cannon made by Japan Steel Works, commander's panoramic vision system, automatic transmission, 1,500hp engine and new armor.

In 2002 the type 10 received its first prototype manufactured by Mitsubishi heavy industries and is said by sources to be this vehicle below, I respectfully disagree with this idea.

A much more "archaic" prototype if I can use that word was found at the JSDF chemistry school being used for training, this vehicle has a much larger LFP than the other prototypes and has an extended hull with 6 road wheels instead of 5 probably to accommodate the 1,500hp engine.

P Because of these and other characteristics I believe this is the first prototype that was manufactured in 2002, for more information see this video

In February 2008, the vehicle said to be prototype number 2 was revealed to the press at the ground equipment research center of the technological research headquarters (sigh)

After 14 years of development, in December 2010, mass production of the Type 10 was signed with the initial batch of 13 vehicles, which at the time cost 13.2 billion yen. By the way, the type 10 received this name a year earlier in 2009.

The JSDF began receiving the first batch of vehicles in 2011 and began active service in 2012 when they were handed over to the Fuji School's armor department. By 2020 it was known that the JSDF had 111 Type 10s in operation.

And in the recent 2024 defense budget, Japan's defense ministry allocated 16.8 billion yen for the purchase of another 10 type 10s and other systems. It is worth remembering that these vehicles are made in Sagamihara.

Moving on to finally starting with the most interesting part that will be the armor.

Allegedly the type 10 can resist the type 10 APFSDS (with size of 763mm) at 250 meters away. The test armor and the cannon were 200 meters away and the amount of propellant was reduced to simulate the additional 50 meters.

This level of protection is provided by a new armor made up of honeycomb-shaped ceramic plates joined by a titanium alloy casing inside this block of ballistic steel. The vehicle's frontal arc is protected by this armor, but the sides of the turret and hull are more fragile.

On both the hull and the turret there is spaced armor placed in front of the blocks to protect against HEAT.

The vehicle actually has composite armor on the sides of the turret that is placed inside these boxes that are used to store the crew's things too, but I couldn't find any data about what this armor can stop.

(prototype photo)

The weight of the vehicle is 44 tons loaded for combat with "standard" armor layout, I don't know what "standard" means but perhaps it means the lack of composite armor on the sides of the turret.

Main armament and ammo

Type 10 is equipped with a 120mm cannon (unnamed as far as I could see) Developed by the Technical Research Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense (currently the Defense Heavy Weapons Agency) in conjunction with Japan steel Works. (also manufacturer)

Japan Steel Works already had experience with manufacturing 120mm cannons since the development of the Type 90 where Japan developed a 120mm cannon better than the L44 (according to tests) but the L44 was cheaper to manufacture and was chosen for the Type 90.

The type 10 cannon was developed in 1998 and at the time had a muzzle brake to reduce recoil, it was removed in the final version. is 20% lighter than the L44, withstands greater pressure and has less recoil. Offering greater penetration capacity without increasing barrel length.

With evolution in mind, the type 10 turret was prepared to receive a longer cannon, an L55/L55A1 or a cannon developed in Japan.

A new high performance cannon deserved a new APFSDS projectile so the "type 10 APFSDS" was born developed and manufactured by daikin, The penetrator is made of tungsten and the projectile itself has an estimated size of 763mm but no information on penetration capacity yet.

The second projectile used is the JM12A1 HEAT-MP which, as the name suggests, is a multi-purpose projectile based on the DM12A1 manufactured under license by Komatsu.

I won't delve too much into this projectile, it is multi-purpose so you can use it to destroy light vehicles, attack infantry and fortified positions as well.

The cannon also has the ability to fire the JM33, which is the Japanese version of the DM33, also manufactured by Komatsu but for use more focused on the Type 90.

Bustle autoloader

It is an evolution of the type 90 autoloader and can place ammunition in the breech in any position the cannon is in and it takes 3 seconds to do so.

The crew can reload the autoloader through an opening in the top of the bustle or through an opening in the back of the bustle (I couldn't find any photos unfortunately)

Ammunition turntable from inside the bustle

The commander and gunner are protected by a wall that separates them from the bustle which has blowout panels, the hull ammunition does not have blowout panels and is next to the driver.

Mobility

Although a 1,500hp engine was considered and tested, the type 10 ultimately received a 1,200hp 8VA34WTK, much smaller than the 1,500hp and 750hp engines of the type 90 and 74.

https://x.com/CFusoh3/status/1809857528496550366?t=-U0t-_Vsz8sbbz13Tq9ftg&s=19

An automatic transmission is also present, which means the vehicle has the same forward speed in reverse which would be 70km/h.

The hydropneumatic suspension allows the vehicle to take different positions, favoring it in defensive positions or even when transporting, it also helps with mobility. (I don't have much to say about it)

Situational awareness and sights

The commander has a third-generation thermal vision system, a laser rangefinger and a day camera Placed in a stabilized panoramic vision system behind the dome that gives you almost 360 degree vision through periscopes.

The Commander has two monitors, one for the C4I and another for the panoramic vision system, it also has the Hunter killer capability and can take control of the main cannon.

There is also another monitor on the side that appears to be a navigation system.

The gunner also has a third generation thermal vision system, a rangefinger laser and a daytime camera, for backup there is a daytime sight placed on the side of the cannon.

The gunner's observation systems consist of a screen with images from the thermal and day sights and a binocular system for backup.

The driver has the simplest station, he has at his disposal a screen that shows the view of the day and night cameras he has, although I don't know if they are thermal or if they are simple night vision

C4I is probably the most advanced in use in the world giving access to a wide range of possibilities in a JSDF network that can connect tanks at platoon level to infantry and etc, basically Getting everyone to communicate and receiving information

The system can also do much cooler things at tank platoon level but I honestly don't feel safe sharing certain information.

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Thanks for your attention.

Correction: CVT transmission

CVT transmission actually