The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has initiated field evaluations of two European-made unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) — the Rheinmetall Mission Master SP and Milrem THeMIS — as part of efforts to expand its unmanned and autonomous capabilities.
The initiative reflects Tokyo’s strategic response to both regional security pressures from China and domestic manpower shortages driven by Japan’s aging and shrinking population.
Japan’s defense procurement agency, ATLA, emphasized in 2024 the need to “promote automation, labor savings, and operational optimization” through unmanned technologies such as UGVs.
The country has acquired three units of each platform for detailed performance assessments across logistics, surveillance, and combat support roles.
The Mission Master SP, powered by an electric drive, features a compact amphibious chassis and modular architecture enabling quick payload changes. The tested variants include cargo, reconnaissance, and remote weapon station configurations. It can travel 6 km/h in water, reach 40 km/h on land, and carry up to 1,000 kg.
The THeMIS, meanwhile, offers longer endurance with up to eight hours of operation and 20 km/h top speed. Its tracked design allows integration of varied weapon systems, including machine guns and anti-tank missiles, suitable for high-load and sustained missions. Standard payload capacity is 750 kg, extendable to 1,200 kg.
The trials mark a significant step in Japan’s broader modernization drive to incorporate unmanned assets into land warfare and support operations.
