Air Defense Anti-Tank System

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ADATS

ADATS test firing
Type Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
Place of origin Flag of Switzerland Switzerland
Specifications
Weight 15.8 tonnes
Length 4.86 m
Width 2.69 m
Crew 3 (commander, driver, system operator)
Armor 12–38 mm aluminium
Primary
armament		 8 ADATS missiles
Secondary
armament		 -
Engine 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel General Motors/Detroit Diesel 6V53
212 hp (158 kW)
Power/weight 13 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion-bar
Operational
range		 400 km
Speed 58 km/h

The Air Defense Anti-Tank System (ADATS) is a dual-purpose short range surface-to-air and anti-tank missile system based on the M113A2 vehicle. It is manufactured by the Swiss company Oerlikon-Contraves, a member of the Rheinmetall Defence Group of Germany.

After an extensive competition, the ADATS system was selected by the U.S. Army for the Forward Area Air-Defense (FAAD)[1] program under the designation MIM-146 for the missile, but ultimately the FAAD contract was cancelled in the early 1990s after the end of the Cold War. It is currently in service with the Canadian Army and in Thailand (Shelter version). The ADATS missile is a laser-guided supersonic missile with a range of 10 kilometres, with an electro-optical sensor with TV and Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR). The carrying vehicle has also a conventional two-dimensional radar with an effective range of over 25 kilometres.

In September 2005, the Canadian Government and the Canadian Forces announced a modernization program, transforming the ADATS and associated command, control and communications systems into a Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle (MMEV). Not only will the MMEV retain and enhance ADATS capability (85% or better engagement success rate) to meet new threats, but it will be mounted on a LAV III wheeled armoured vehicle. This will be fitted with a 3D radar, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missile (using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to gather required intelligence and target location at a range of 8 km or more) and low-cost precision kill (LCPK) missile (fireable on direct shot at an 8 km+ range), based on a 2.75-inch rocket and advanced Battle Management Command and Control Communication Computer and Information (BMC41), including Link 11/16, to provide the third dimension to the ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) infrastructure of the Army. The flexible ground-based multi-mission system will be providing military commanders with a homeland defence and expeditionary air, land, and maritime forces capability for ground-based air defence/airspace coordination and long-range direct fire/NLOS support for ground engagement to defend against asymmetric and conventional threats.

However, Canadian Forces Land Staff recommended in July of 2006 for the Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle Project to be canceled, along with the Mobile Gun System. The latter recommendation was followed upon by the new Minister of National Defence at the time Gordon O'Connor.

Contents

[edit] MMEV weapon systems

The MMEV will feature a wide array of weapons for different engagements. Its direct fire with low cost rockets will be able to take down direct targets at an 8+ km range with an astonishing damage effect as it will fire multiple rockets on targets. The promotional videos of the MMEV shows it firing eight rockets at a single target without missing once. Note that the dub target was not moving, but the attack left only small debris of the armor leaving no chance for any enemy vehicle encountered.

Its second ground-fire function features a guided missile, again with an 8+ km range that is guided onto the target. This can be used to engage long-range targets such as light artillery but doing heavy damage. The non-line-of-sight capability allows the ADATS crew to use UAVs to spot targets under cover and fire its laser-guided missile over any obstacle.

The MMEV also features the regular ADATS air defence system which can fire at a 10 km range to engage helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

It is believed that two C6 machine guns will be mounted on the MMEV, for self-defence.

[edit] Missile

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ MIM-72 / M48 Chaparral Forward Area Air-Defense System [FAADS], Federation of American Scientists Web site. Accessed 2 January 2007.

[edit] External links

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