A few years back, news broke that the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) will soon be replacing their Type 89 rifle, made by HOWA, with a new rifle, also designed by HOWA, and it’s called the Type 20. The design, as many have noticed, looks closer to the FN SCAR design and even the CZ 805 Bren. Otherwise, it is a design for a 21s Century JGSDF.

The Type 20 is designed to be more resistant to water and corrosion, making it more appropriate for amphibious operations given that Japan is island chain. It is a short-stroke piston design, uses the M-LOK rail system, telescopic sights, ambidextrous fire selector switch, and is expected to use a 1-8x scope as primary aiming device apart from the iron sights.

Other accessories are the Aimpoint M5 red dot sight, OTAL-C laser and Surefire M300 as the weaponlight.

It is shorter than the Type 89 and does away with the three round burst option seen in its predecessor. It can be mounted with a bayonet using the under rail as well as vertical foregrip or a bipod. It can use the Berea GLX-160 40mm grenade launcher.

During the Iron Fist 2023, US-Japan joint military exercise hosted by Japan and took place last 19 February to 12 March 2023, the Type 20 was used by the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade of the JGSDF involved in the exercise together with the U.S. Marines. It does give you the impression that it has the FN SCAR ergonomics and they used shell catchers which they can reuse.

Whilst the Type 20, just like the Type 89, uses the 5.56mm round, it was announced during the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan event that took place last 15-17 March, that the Type 20 5.56mm round is a new one since if it uses the Type 89 5.56mm round, the penetration power is weaker. The new round, called the J3 High Power Ammunition, it uses the same gunpowder and cartridge as the Type 89 but it is a single piece core instead of  double piece core to prevent deformation on impact and thus, better penetration. It will also be tested with the other 5.56mm weapons of the JGSDF such as the Minimi MK1 and the Minimi MK3.

Howa is expected to deliver 150,000 units of the Type 20 over 30 years.