Japan to induct new rifles from FY 2024

The Type 20 rifle is a selective-fire, air-cooled, magazine box-fed, gas-operated assault rifle with a conventional layout. The rifle can be configured for either automatic or semi-automatic fire via a fire-selector lever. (Howa Machinery Ltd)

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will induct Type 20 5.56×45 mm assault rifles, produced by Japanese manufacturer Howa Machinery, from fiscal year (FY) 2024.

The service will also procure Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FN) Herstal's Minimi Mk 3 light machine guns (LMGs) and German handgun firm Heckler & Koch's (H&K's) G28 E2 anti-personnel sniper guns in 2024.

A spokesperson for the Japanese Ministry of Defense's (MoD's) Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) told Janes that the ministry allocated JPY3.3 billion (USD23.3 million) in the 2023 defence budget to acquire 8,577 Type 20 rifles as a successor to the Type 89 rifles.

The new rifles will be used for close combat operations by JGSDF personnel and “are scheduled to be delivered in FY 2024 and 2025”, the spokesperson said.

According to Janes Weapons: Infantry, the Type 20 is a selective-fire, air-cooled, magazine box-fed, gas-operated assault rifle with a conventional layout. The rifle can be configured for either automatic or semi-automatic fire via a fire-selector lever.

The Type 20's 5.56 chambered barrel is 330 mm long and features six grooves. The rifle is fitted with a flash hider/compensator muzzle device. Two bands at the rear of the muzzle device indicate that the Type 20 can fire Type 06 rifle grenades.

The rifle is fed from 30-round metal or polymer NATO pattern magazines and is fitted as standard with folding backup iron sights (BUIS) that are attached to the upper receiver rail.