The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that it has selected 5.56 mm Minimi MK3 light machine guns manufactured by the Belgian company FN Herstal and 7.62 mm caliber G28E2 sniper rifles manufactured by the German Heckler & Koch for the units of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).

According to Janes website, Japan will purchase 514 light machine guns worth $6.88 million and 182 sniper rifles worth about $8.5 million in 2024. In February 2023, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced its intention to purchase 3,100 Minimi machine guns worth about $112 million intended to replace the Minimi MK1 machine guns manufactured in Japan by the Sumitomo company and currently in use by the army. The Japanese MoD intends to purchase a total amount of 900 sniper rifles worth $70 million.

The website adds that the G28 sniper rifles are intended to replace the M24A2 sniper rifles that are now in use by the army and notes that the quantities mentioned only represent the first supply round in 2024 and the total quantities will only be decided after the first round’s supply is completed.

In the field of assault rifles, this year Japan will also purchase 8,577 Type 20 rifles, for which it was decided in 2020 that they will replace the Type 89 caliber 5.56 mm rifle in service, at a value of $24.9 million. Beretta 40mm GLX160 grenade launchers were chosen for these assault rifles.