The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has begun equipping its Type 16 combat vehicles with new drone protection solutions, marking the first time this model has received this type of reinforcement.
Images posted on social media show a vehicle from the 4th Combat Reconnaissance Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division, located on the island of Kyushu, during a movement in a public area.
The photos reveal the installation of a structure with a net over the turret, as well as additional protection for the commander’s panoramic sight and defensive elements in the rear of the armored vehicle. It is also possible to observe modifications to the bodywork, although the exact type of material used cannot yet be precisely identified from the available images.
Another detail that caught attention was the presence of a metal plate in the region of the engine exhaust. The component appears to have been designed to direct exhaust gases through the sides of the vehicle, reducing infantry exposure to harmful gases during close-range operations, which increases the safety of soldiers operating within a few meters of the armored vehicle.
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The Type 16 is an 8×8 vehicle armed with a 105 mm cannon and constitutes one of the main means of fire support for the rapid response and reconnaissance units of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The adoption of these protections follows a trend already seen in the Type 90 and Type 10 tanks, which also received anti-drone cage armor, while the Japanese Ministry of Defense continues to study more effective solutions to face the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @numa227red_wing | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Something different MCV than usual🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/PZyaTekt3D
— Numa@MCV loving brother🫐 (@numa227red_wing) January 17, 2026
