Main battle tank of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
It was designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for all deployed Type 61 and Type 74 tanks, and entered service in 1990. It is to be superseded by the Type 10 tank.
Two prototypes of the Type 90 were completed in 1980, both armed with a Japanese 120 mm gun (produced by Japan Steel Works Limited) firing Japanese ammunition (produced by Daikin Industries Limited). Testing and design modifications such as improvements to the turret and half Modular type ceramic composite armor continued until 1986.
