Comparing: (R) T-62A vs. STB-1

Development of the first Soviet post-war medium tank started in 1951. In 1961, after developing and testing several working prototypes, the T-62A with a rifled gun and the T-62 with a smoothbore gun were deployed. In March 1962, mass production of the T-62A was discontinued. The T-62 tank was mass-produced from 1961 through 1975, with a total of twenty thousand vehicles manufactured. Later modifications of the vehicle are still in service.

In the early 1960s, Mitsubishi started development of a new tank that complied with government requirements for armament and defense. The first two prototypes of the STB-1 were manufactured in September 1969 for trials. In 1970 the prototypes were shown to journalists and participated in a military parade.