Japanese Tanks Fitted with Anti-Drone Cages

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has publicly presented tanks equipped with improvised anti-drone protection for the first time.

Photos taken during an open day at the Higashi-Chitose garrison held to mark the 70th anniversary of the 7th Division and the 71st anniversary of the garrison captured Type 90 and Type 10 tanks fitted with so-called anti-drone cages designed to shield turret roofs from drone attacks.

The protective grills, developed as part of a unit-level initiative, consist of welded profile pipes with stretched chain-link mesh. The upper section of the structure is removable, allowing for quick disassembly if needed.

The tanks displayed belong to the JGSDF’s 7th Armored Division on the northern island of Hokkaido. The 71st Tank Regiment operates the Type 10, while the Type 90 serves in the 72nd Tank Regiment.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense plans to significantly enhance the anti-drone capabilities of its tank fleet. The Type 10 is slated to receive an active protection system (APS) and a 30mm cannon with programmable airburst munitions.

According to the Ministry, the 30mm gun will be effective against small quadcopter-type drones used for reconnaissance and ammunition delivery, while the APS will enable interception of FPV drones from all directions.

To improve targeting, the tanks will be equipped with antennas that support both the APS and directional engagement by the 30mm gun.

Three APS candidates currently meet JGSDF requirements, namely Rafael’s Trophy, Rheinmetall’s StrikeShield, and Elbit’s Iron Fist.
The specifications call for protection of the upper hemisphere, full 360° interception coverage, four ready-to-fire charges, and a total system weight below 1,000 kg.

It remains unclear how many tanks will be upgraded through the initiative. However, Japan is expected to purchase 300 Kongsberg RS6 remote weapon stations, with domestic production set at 10 units per year.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense has ordered a new batch of Type 10 tanks for fiscal year 2025. On March 27, it signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to manufacture 10 tanks at a cost of $102.37 million. This amount covers production only and excludes logistics and support.

As of 2022, the unit cost of a Type 10 tank stood at approximately $9.5 million (¥1.4 billion). In total, the Ministry has allocated $146.56 million to purchase 12 tanks and associated support equipment.