Japan to Provide Ukrainian Armed Forces with 30 Military Light Trucks, 6 Already Delivered

The Japanese Ministry of Defense is set to supply Ukraine with around 30 military light trucks.

The Embassy of Japan in Ukraine announced this.

Six of these vehicles have already been delivered to Ukraine on April 10, 2025.

These vehicles will complement the previously delivered fleet of 101 vehicles from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, which included Type 73 military light trucks, HMVs, and the PC-065B tracked engineering vehicles.

It is currently unknown whether the entire number of vehicles will consist solely of military light trucks, as other equipment, including engineering vehicles, may potentially be included.

The delivered light trucks are second-generation Mitsubishi Type 73 vehicles, developed based on the civilian Mitsubishi Pajero platform from 1996. As of today, the production of these vehicles takes place at two Mitsubishi factories, located in the Gifu and Aichi prefectures.

Between 1996 and 2014, the vehicle was equipped with a 2.8-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder diesel engine, the 4M40, producing 125 horsepower. Since 2014, it has been fitted with a newer 2.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, the 4N15, with the same power output of 125 horsepower.

The transmission is a 4-speed automatic, the drive is all-wheel drive, the maximum speed is 125 km/h, and the payload capacity is 440 kg.

The vehicle can be equipped with a Minimi machine gun or a 12.7mm Browning. In the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, these vehicles are used as command vehicles for commanders and officers.

The vehicles are also used by specialized anti-tank units and shoulder-launched missile crews and serve as light transport for special forces units.

In addition to providing equipment, Japan is also implementing a program to rehabilitate Ukrainian soldiers.

In February 2025, it was announced that the Japanese Ministry of Defense would be accepting injured Ukrainian servicemen for treatment at another military hospital.

In addition to the rehabilitation treatment of wounded Ukrainian servicemen at the Central Hospital of the Self-Defense Forces, the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces have decided to provide rehabilitation treatment to wounded Ukrainian servicemen at the hospital of the National Military Medical College of the Ministry of Defense of Japan.