Japan orders Kawasaki missiles for Type 01 LMAT anti-tank system (Photo: JGSDF)
The Ministry of Defense of Japan has ordered additional missiles for its third-generation Type 01 LMAT anti-tank system.
According to the ministry, the contract was signed on December 17, 2025, with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The total value of the order is 2,008,567,000 yen (approximately $13 million USD).
The agreement provides for the production of new tandem anti-tank missiles equipped with an infrared seeker operating on a “fire and forget” principle.
The Type 01 systems, which have been used by Japan since 2001, are the primary anti-tank weapon for Japanese infantry units and are issued at a rate of one launcher per soldier in a detachment.
The system consists of a missile, a launcher, and a night sight. Its total weight does not exceed 20 kilograms, making it lighter and more compact, allowing a single soldier to operate the weapon.
Despite its small size, the missile is equipped with a tandem warhead capable of defeating explosive reactive armor and penetrating the protection of main battle tanks.
A key technical feature is its infrared seeker based on an uncooled sensor, the first implementation of such technology in this class of system at the time.
This allows the missile to track the target independently after lock-on while the operator moves. The absence of a cooling requirement significantly reduces the preparation time for launch.
Another innovation was the use of a jet-based flight control system, enabling safe firing from confined spaces and shelters, thus increasing the operator’s survivability.
Photo: JGSDF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
