The Japanese Military’s Toyota Mega Cruisers

JGSDF’s High-Mobility Vehicle

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has various vehicles to transport their infantry units, and one of them is the Toyota Mega Cruiser – or the”High Mobility Vehicle” as the JGSDF calls it.

The Toyota Mega Cruiser is generally known as a commercial car, but it actually derives from the military variant, though they are similar in both outward appearance and capability.

The commercial version was even recognized as” militarily-fit” to be used by the Air Self-Defense Force and the Maritime Self-Defense Force for base defense.

• General Overview 

The “Original” Mega Cruiser, which started being issued to the JGSDF in 1993, is a personnel transport vehicle developed by Toyota with actual production left to Hino Motors.

The vehicle has earned the nickname “Janbee” in reference to the US Humvee, but unlike the real Humvee, it lacks the proper armor necessary for protecting the crew from firearms and shrapnel.

Even compared with the Komatsu Light Armored Vehicle, which is also a common JGSDF vehicle,  the Mega Cruiser’s bulletproof capabilities are kept at an absolute minimum.

This was the result of prioritizing agility over armor, enabling the Janbee to maneuver at a top speed of 125km/h or 77.6mph. However, there is a Type II variant designed for overseas deployment that is equipped with bulletproof glass and steel plates.

The standard Mega Cruiser accommodates up to eight people, but this number can be increased to a full squad of ten if the passengers are seated tightly.

Despite the large width, the vehicle can actually fit inside a CH-47J helicopter, enabling rapid deployment through airlifts.

Mega Cruiser being loaded on a CH-47J (photo: JGSDF)

But, perhaps the greatest strongpoint of the Mega Cruiser is its powerful engine.

The vehicle operates on four-wheel drive (4WD), conveying the engine power to all four tires, and is able to climb a maximum gradient of 60%. This figure is equivalent to that of a tank, indicating the vehicle’s capacity in ascending even the toughest landscapes.

Using such powerful nature, the Mega Cruiser is ideal in serving various purposes,  from towing 120mm heavy mortars to installing surface-to-air missiles on the cargo bed.

Somewhat Comfortable?

Regrading comfortability, military equipment are usually exempted from this aspect, with the same applying to most JGSDF vehicles.

However, the Mega Cruiser is said to be relatively comfortable due to Toyota’s effort in making the car closer to commercial SUVs. As a result,  features like the power steering assistance for the driver and somewhat cushiony seats with reclining were installed.

Frontal view of the JGSDF mega cruiser

On the other hand, the most-wanted air conditioning was not standard-issue in this case as well, only featured in cars designated for overseas deployment.

Nonetheless, more than 3,000 units were mass-produced and allocated to the infantry regiments. JGSDF has now completed distributing to most infantry regiments, and is now shifting to other units such as artillery and communication.

Since there is no concrete plans for developing a successor vehicle, the old early models are to be replaced with newly produced ones.

Unintended Use By Russia

The Jambee is also quite popular among military fans, attracting a certain number of people interested in purchasing them, but they are unfortunately not to be sold to the public even as second-hand antiques.

Once the vehicles exceed their service life, they are auctioned and handed over to scrap dealers under the condition of complete destruction.

Despite these rules laid out by the Japanese government, some Jambees were confirmed being used by the Russian Army in Ukraine, indicating that some dealers chose to secretly export them rather than complying with the requirement of dismantlement.

It’s not like these old Mega Cruisers hold any military secrets or anything, but the fact that former JGSDF equipment was found in Russian military service without authorization is concerning.