Group : Wheeled Armored Vehicles
Status : Active
Also Known As : Cougar
Origin : Japan
Contractor : Komatsu
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1996
Total Production : 380

The Type 96, also known as Cougar, is an 8x8 high mobility, wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) capable of carrying up to eight fully equipped infantrymen as well as the driver and the gunner. For self-defense purposes, it can be equipped with either a roof-mounted 40mm grenade launcher or an M2 12.7mm machine gun. It is powered by a six-cylinder water-cooled four-cycle diesel engine rated at 360-hp and allowing a top speed of 100 kph on road. So far, Komatsu has produced 270 Type 96 APCs for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). The Type 96 armored vehicles will be replaced by the AMVXP from Patria beginning in 2025.

Group : NBC Reconnaissance Vehicles
Status : Retired - No Longer Operational
Origin : Japan
Contractor : Komatsu
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2014
Total Production : 6
Unitary Cost : JPY ¥700 million

The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Type 96 nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance vehicle (NBCRV) is based upon the Type 96 8x8 armored personnel carrier (APC). The vehicle is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment to detect and identify nuclear and biochemical agents in the field and transfer that critical information to the Japanese Ministry of Defense. The 8x8 Type 96 NBCRV vehicle is about eight meters long, weighs roughly 20 tons and carries a crew of four-men that operate without mask inside the vehicle. The JGSDF took delivery of a first batch of six vehicles in August 2014 with each vehicle valued at 700 million Japanese Yen.