As a leading military power in East Asia, Japan attaches great importance to its mobile ground units
To add more modern facilities to the motorized units, in 2002, nearly 2,000 Komatsu LAVs were put into service
These vehicles are especially suitable for urban warfare, as well as front-line reconnaissance and utility duties
Komatsu LAV is classified as a light armored vehicle
Development was started in the 1990s by Komatsu, based on a 4x4 Toyota Mega Cruiser chassis and is heavily modified
It is quite similar to Panhard VBL serving in the French Army
The vehicle weighs about 4.5 tons, has a length of 4.4 m, a width of 2.04 m, and a height of 1.85 m
The Komatsu LAV is used to transport armoured infantry troops in the battlefield, with a crew of 4 plus a driver
The Komatsu LAV has open-split roof hatch of the vehicle provides additional protection to the gunner from all directions, if it is locked in an upright position
The vehicles deployed in Iraq are fitted with reinforced bulletproof windshields
wire cutters and an armoured tub around the gun mount for extra protection
According to reports, the vehicle is bulletproof against 5.56 and 7.62 bullets
It is unknown whether other bullet calibers can easily penetrate the LAV or not
For the LAV's engine, it is fitted with a liquid cooled 4-cycle diesel engine of 160 hp
The power pack is mounted centre forward of the vehicle to distribute weight more evenly between the axles
The propulsion system provides a top speed of 100 km/h, traveling more than 200 miles without refueling
It is fitted with all run-flat tires. The low turning radius allows the vehicle to negotiate narrow passages
The Komatsu LAV can be armed with the Sumitomo M249 LMG or Sumitomo M2HB 12.7mm machine gun for anti-personnel duties
It can also mount the Type 01 LMAT or a Kawasaki Type 87 anti-tank missile for anti-armored missions
Smoke grenade dischargers can be mounted on the rear sides of the vehicle
As with all Japanese military equipment the LAV is only used by Japan and has not been exported
due to self-imposed restrictions on foreign military equipment sales
The Komatsu LAV had made its first appearance in Kuwait when JGSDF units had deployed the Komatsu LAV prior to humanitarian operations in Samawah
a city in Iraq, 280 km southeast of Baghdad