The Indonesian Harimau light tank, equipped with a 105 mm high-pressure Cockerill gun, will be a new addition to Japan’s ground forces tree!
Harimau: A Light Tank for Japan at Rank VII
At a glance:
Rapid-fire 105 mm gun with DM63 APFSDS
Modern thermal imagers
LWS and laser rangefinder
Good mobility
Light armor
The modern Harimau (Indonesian for “Tiger”) light tank is a fast vehicle featuring a Cockerill turret system that includes a 105 mm rifled gun with an autoloader, high-res thermal imagers and a laser rangefinder.
Joining the Japanese ground forces tree as a light tank, the Harimau performs well both independently and in a support role. Highly mobile and equipped with modern electronics and an excellent rate of fire, the Harimau excels at capturing objectives, flanking, and drone-assisted recon. However, it’s not built for direct firefights, as its armor consists of lightweight alloys, so make sure you strike first and accurately — or you’ll be sent back to the hangar rather fast!
The modular turret from the Harimau tank will already be familiar to many of you from the Boxer MGS and CT-CV 105HP. Its key advantages include an autoloader with a 7.5-second reload time, a modern fire-control system featuring thermal imagers and a laser rangefinder, and the DM63 APFSDS round, which is one of the best at this caliber. A key feature of the Harimau is its tracked chassis; it offers a lower profile and superior off-road mobility compared to wheeled platforms, while its speed is only slightly lower.
Developer Comment: Hey again everyone! We’ve decided to place the Harimau after the Type 16 in the Japanese ground forces tree at the end of the light tank line, as it features superior APFSDS rounds and a significantly faster reload rate. Unlike the wheeled Type 16, the Harimau has a lower top speed, but its tracked platform offers better mobility on unstable terrain. Ultimately, Japan gets an excellent addition that supports high-ranking MBTs with a vehicle capable of both support and recon roles!
In May 2015, Indonesia and Turkey signed an agreement to jointly develop a new medium tank. The project was undertaken by Turkey’s FNSS and Indonesia’s PT Pindad. The tank was named Harimau in Indonesia and Kaplan MT in Turkey. The first prototype was unveiled in May 2017 at the IDEF exhibition. The start of serial production was announced in February 2020. For the production models, engineers modified the hull’s frontal section and improved the turret system, powertrain, cooling system, and suspension.
Deliveries of the Harimau to Indonesia began in February 2024, where the tank is replacing the aging AMX-13-105.
That’s it for this one! The Indonesian Harimau is going to be a great addition to the game for Japan, supplementing several ground forces lineups. Enjoy and see you in the next blog!
Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.