Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF; Japanese: 陸上自衛隊; Rikujō Jieitai), is the main branch of the Japan Self-Defense Force responsible for land-based military operations. It is the de facto army of Japan. The JGSDF was created on July 1, 1954. Up until the end of the Cold War, its primary concern was maintaining internal security in Japan and countering a possible Soviet invasion of Hokkaido. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is tasked with maintaining internal security in Japan and operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of the ground staff is General Eiji Kimizuka (Japanese: 君塚 栄治).
The JGSDF numbered around 150,000 soldiers in 2008. As of 2010, it numbered approximately 148,000 personnel.
Equipment[edit | edit source]
Armoured Fighting Vehicles[edit | edit source]
Tanks[edit | edit source]
- Type 90 Main Battle Tank x 540 (Main Battle Tank)
- Type 10 Main Battle Tank x 282 (Main Battle Tank)
Fire Support Vehicles[edit | edit source]
- Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle x 260 (Fire Support Vehicle)
Infantry Fighting Vehicles[edit | edit source]
- Type 89 Infantry Fighting Vehicle x 478 (Infantry Fighting Vehicle)
- Type 24 Infantry Combat Vehicle x 180 (Infantry Fighting Vehicle)
Armoured Personnel Carriers[edit | edit source]
- Type 73 Armoured Personnel Carrier x 340
- Type 96 Armoured Personnel Carrier x 500
- Komatsu Light Armoured Vehicle x 1,842
- Patria AMV x 810
Reconnaissance Vehicles[edit | edit source]
- Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle x 58 (CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicle)
- Type 87 Reconnaissance Combat Vehicle x 128
- Type 25 Reconnaissance Combat Vehicle x 140
Artillery[edit | edit source]
Towed Artillery[edit | edit source]
- FH-70 Towed Howitzer x 492
Self Propelled Artillery[edit | edit source]
- Type 99 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer x 272 (Self-Propelled Howitzer)
- Type 19 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer x 44 (Self-Propelled Howitzer) - 500 planned
Mortar Launchers[edit | edit source]
- Type 96 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar x 28 (Self-Propelled Mortar)
- Type 24 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar x 16 (Self-Propelled Mortar) - 120 planned
Rocket Artillery[edit | edit source]
- M270 MLRS x 112 (Multiple Launch Rocket System)
Air Defense Vehicles[edit | edit source]
- Type 87 SPAAG x 122 (Anti-Aircraft Gun)
Aircraft[edit | edit source]
Fixed Wing[edit | edit source]
- Beechcraft LR-2 Super King Air x 8 (Reconnaissance and Communications)
Helicopters[edit | edit source]
- Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma x 4 (VIP Transport Helicopter)
- Kawasaki OH-1 x 250 (Scout/Observation Helicopter)
- Bell AH-1S Cobra x 72 (Attack Helicopter)
- Kawasaki AH-2 x 62 (Attack Helicopter)
- Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow x 18 (Attack Helicopter)
- Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey x 18 (V/STOL Transport)
- Boeing CH-47JA Chinook x 66 (Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter)
- Fuji UH-1J x 126 (Utility Helicopter)
- Subaru-Bell UH-2 x 10 - 150+ planned
- Mitsubishi UH-60JA Kurotaka x 70 (Utility Helicopter)
- Enstrom TH-480B x 30 (Trainer Helicopter)
