Japanese Antitank Missiles

摘要

Through 1995, Kawasaki manufactured 44,000 ATGMs for the Japanese armed forces including the Type 64, Type 79 and Type 87. The Type 87 Chu-MAT (Medium-Missile Antitank), is a medium-range semi-active laser homing weapon that replaced the Type 64 MAT in Japanese service; it is a Japanese analog of the US Army Hellfire missile, though smaller. The missile also is known as ATM-3 and KAM-40. In recent years, the Japanese Army acquired them at a rate of about 24 launchers per year and about 440 launchers were acquired. In 1990, the JDA began funding the development of the new fiber-optic guided Type 96 (formerly XATM-4) Multi-Purpose Missile System (MPMS) with a secondary anti-landing craft role that is similar in configuration to the US EFOG-M. Procurement in recent years has been one set annually. In order to drive the cost of this system down, the GSDF has begun to acquire the ATM-6 Chu-MPM Medium Range Multi-Purpose Missile system which uses more conventional SAL/IIR guidance. Procurement began in 2009 with 75 sets funded in FY09-FY14.