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Japan Quietly Deploys All-Terrain Engineering Vehicle to Support Front-Line Operations in Ukraine.
According to an article published on April 8, 2025, on the Forbes website, a Japanese engineering support vehicle, the Morooka PC-065B, has been observed for the first time on the front line in Ukraine. This tracked vehicle, typically used in civilian engineering and construction projects in Japan, is now part of the logistical effort deployed by Tokyo to assist Kyiv. Its delivery illustrates Japan’s unique position in the conflict, navigating between constitutional constraints and a gradually increasing commitment to Ukraine.
The Morooka PC-065B is a Japanese-designed all-terrain tracked vehicle weighing around five tons (Picture source: Wikimedia)
Since the large-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022, Japan has aligned itself with Western democracies in condemning the aggression and providing support to Ukraine. However, due to its pacifist constitution—specifically Article 9—the country is prohibited from exporting lethal weapons or becoming directly involved in military conflicts. This restriction has led Tokyo to focus on non-military assistance, centered on humanitarian aid, economic support, and the provision of logistical equipment. Over the course of three years, Japan has allocated approximately $10 billion in aid to Ukraine, a significant but often overlooked contribution in international assessments.
In May 2023, the Japanese government announced a new step in its assistance, pledging a batch of 101 vehicles to Kyiv. This shipment included Toyota trucks, widely used for troop and equipment transport, as well as several Morooka PC-065B units. Deliveries began shortly thereafter via Poland. Though originally civilian in design, these vehicles have been integrated by the Ukrainian military into frontline missions, particularly for engineering tasks and close-range logistics.
The Morooka PC-065B is a Japanese-designed all-terrain tracked vehicle weighing around five tons. It features a spacious rear cargo bed and is equipped with a crane capable of lifting to three tons. Its key asset lies in its rubber track system, which provides excellent mobility over soft, muddy, or swampy terrain while minimizing ground pressure—an essential quality in agricultural or waterlogged areas. Such terrain, common in the Ukrainian countryside during spring, is typically challenging for wheeled or heavier vehicles. Thanks to its mobility, the PC-065B can transport construction materials, move heavy equipment, or build defensive structures even under difficult conditions.
The vehicle is neither armored nor armed, making it vulnerable to enemy strikes, especially from surveillance drones and artillery fire. However, its value lies in its ability to operate near the front to support troops quickly. Engineering units can use the PC-065B to build bunkers, reinforce trenches, or deliver essential supplies to hard-to-reach areas. Though these tasks are indirect, they play an active role in bolstering Ukrainian defensive resilience in contested zones.
The PC-065B complements a broader fleet of light tracked vehicles already in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These include Australian M-113AS4s, Swedish BVS-10s, and Norwegian NM199s, used for logistics, medical evacuation, or troop transport. All these vehicles share a design philosophy prioritizing lightweight mobility, terrain adaptability, and modularity. Their growing presence on the battlefield reflects the evolving nature of the conflict into a war of attrition, where maneuverability and the ability to quickly reinforce defensive positions are just as critical as firepower.
To date, Ukraine has lost around fifteen such tracked support vehicles in combat, though no confirmed losses of the Japanese-made PC-065Bs have been reported. This relative survivability may stem from the vehicle’s low profile, its limited deployment to targeted missions, and its lower thermal and acoustic signatures compared to larger armored platforms.
The appearance of the Morooka PC-065B in Ukraine is both symbolically and strategically significant. It highlights an often-overlooked aspect of international support to Ukraine—the specialized logistical contributions that, while not headline-grabbing, play a crucial role in sustaining long-term military operations. For Japan, this form of technical assistance allows it to remain aligned with its constitutional principles while signaling its solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. By investing in non-offensive yet operationally relevant support, Tokyo adopts a pragmatic diplomatic posture—one that balances its legal constraints with its broader strategic interests in global stability.