The Howa Type 20 – Japan’s Latest Assault Rifle

 Type 89’s Replacement

While the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) use the Type 89 as their main assault rifle, they have introduced a new replacement for the first time in over 30 years – the Howa Type 20 Rifle.

Developed and manufactured by Howa Machinery, the same firm responsible for the Type 89, the new rifle comes after a decade of planning and evaluation by the Ground Self-Defense Force  (JGSDF).

• General Overview 

Although several foreign and domestic candidates considered, JGSDF ultimately opted for a prototype called “HOWA 5.56” which demonstrated excellent resistance towards seawater and mud, making it ideal for island defense operations.

The Type 20 Rifle uses stainless steel and special coatings, thereby enhancing its durability in harsh environments. It also has rails on the upper and side sections for attaching accessories, including optical scopes, tactical flashlights, grenade launchers, and hand grips.

It also comes with an adjustable stock for close quarter combat, and accommodates both right and left-handed users by putting the selector switches on both sides of the gun.

These features make the new rifle more flexible than the previous Type 89, though they share the same ammunition and magazines to ensure compatibility.

On the other hand, the three-round burst mode seen in the Type 89 has been left out, leaving only the single-shot and full automatic modes. This was done due to the three-round mode being deemed as “impractical” in actual combat scenarios.

Despite some minor criticisms, such as being unable to fold the stock, the Type 20 has been well-received by the soldiers for its lighter weight, improved versatility, and high accuracy.

Procurement: 150,000+ Units

Nevertheless, these advanced features has resulted in a price similar to the Type 89, costing around ¥300,000 or 2,200 USD per unit.

Although expensive unit prices due to limited demand is nothing new for the JSDF, it does hinder one’s operational capability, particularly when it applies to the basic standard rifle.

In fact, Japan has only managed to procure less than 150,000 Type 89 rifles so far, albeit having around 240,000 military personnel in total.

Of course, the Type 89 has made its way to JGSDF’s combat units, but some rear units are still stuck with the obsolete Type 64 rifle, let alone the Air Force and Navy.

Type 20 Rifle with accessories (photo: JGSDF)

So, is the Type 20 going to follow the same fate as its predecessor in terms of procurement?

This is where the recent boost of military expenditure comes into effect.

JGSDF currently plans to acquire at least 150,000 Type 20 rifles, but the pace of procurement is undoubtedly faster than the Type 89.

10,000 units are to be made just in the year 2025 alone, indicating Japan’s seriousness to rapidly modernize their main assault rifle.

As such, the new rifle has already been deployed to island defense units like the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, and even some regular infantry regiments are seeing their Type 89s being replaced.

Wider distribution is expected in the coming years, and even the Air Force and Navy will receive the Type 20 in the hundreds, which is something absolutely unprecedented.

Overall, the introduction and rapid procurement of the Howa Type 20 marks a significant step forward for Japan, bringing their basic weapon back in line with global standards and better preparing them for modern warfare.