These were armed with the Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore gun also fitted to the German Leopard 2 and, in a modified version, in the US M1A1/M1A2 Abrams MBT. Testing, improvements (Turret and half Modular type ceramic composite armour), and designs were modified and constructed until 1986.Ī second series of four prototypes was built between 19 which incorporated changes as a result of trials with the first two prototypes.
Requirements of the Type 90 were completed in 1980 with two prototypes, both armed with a Japanese 120 mm gun (product by Japan Steel Works Limited) firing Japanese ammunition (product by Daikin Industries Limited), completed in 1982 to 1984. Major subcontractors include Japan Steel Works, Daikin Industries, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu and NEC. Joint development was performed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and leadership of TRDI (Japan Defence Agency's Technology Research and Development Institute). As a result, development of a prototype, the TK-X MBT began between 19. The Type 90 has an approximate unit cost of 790 million Japanese yen or approximately 7.4 million US dollars at 2008 exchange rates.Īfter the adoption of the Type 74, the Japanese High Command was already looking for a superior, completely indigenous tank design to defeat the Soviet T-72.