| Mitsubishi Type 87 | |
|---|---|
Type 87 SPAAG at Camp Shimoshizu |
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| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan Steel Works |
| Designed | 1982 |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Produced | 1987 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 44 t |
| Length | Hull: 6.7 m (20 ft) |
| Width | 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 4.10 m (13 ft 5 in) (radar up) |
| Crew | 3 |
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| Armor | steel, classified |
| Main armament |
2 × 35 mm KDA autocannon |
| Secondary armament |
2 × 3 smoke grenade dischargers |
| Engine | Mitsubishi 10ZF Type 22 10-cylinder air-cooled diesel engine 750 hp (560 kW) |
| Power/weight | 17 hp/ton |
| Suspension | hydropneumatic |
| Operational range |
300 km (190 mi) |
| Speed | 53 km/h (33 mph) |
The Type 87 SPAAG (self-propelled anti-aircraft gun) (87式自走高射機関砲 hati-nana-shiki-jisou-kousya-kikan-hou) is a Japanese air defense weapon built around the Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon system used on the Gepard tank. The system uses a modified Type 74 tank chassis. It is also nicknamed by field officers as Guntank after the similar looking mobile suit in the Mobile Suit Gundam series.[1]
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As the JSDF began to seek a replacement for the M42 Duster SPAAGs provided by the United States, the Japanese Defense Agency began to issue requirements for the production of a local SPAAG unit to replace the M42. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had been eventually awarded the contract to produce a SPAAG unit to replace its old M42s.
It had been developed in 1987, given the Type 87 designation status, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries providing the chassis and Japan Steel Works providing the cannon system. Initially, the chassis of the Type 61 tank would be used. Later, it had been rejected and had the chassis of the Type 74 tank used instead as a basis for producing the Type 87 SPAAG.
Prior to its development, tests had begun underway in 1982 with a prototype SPAAG unit manufactured in 1983.
In 2010, it was reported that the Japan Self-Defense Forces had 52 of these vehicles in service.
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