Air Defense Anti-Tank System

ADATS
ADATS on display for the 2008 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
Type	Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
Place of origin	Switzerland
Service history
Used by	Canada (M113 mounted)  Thailand (Fixed emplacement)/ semi-mobile
Specifications
Weight	15.8 tonnes
Length	4.86 m
Width	2.69 m
Crew	3 (commander, driver, system operator)
Armor	12–38 mm aluminium
Main 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 (36 mph)[1]

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.

History

The ADATS cropped up from an extensive competition during which it was selected by the U.S. Army for the Forward Area Air-Defense (FAAD)^[2] 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 as a mobile, M113 based system, and in Thailand as a fixed, ground shelter defense system.

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.

Modernisation program

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). The MMEV was to retain and enhance ADATS capability (85% or better engagement success rate) to meet new threats, and would be mounted on a LAV III wheeled armoured vehicle.

It was to 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 would have provided 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.

Canadian Forces Land Staff recommended in July 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.^[3]

Missile

• Length: 2.05 m
• Diameter: 125 mm
• Launch weight: approx. 51 kg
• Speed: Mach 3+
• Range: 10 km
• Ceiling: 7,000 m
• Warhead: 12.5 kg high explosive (HE) fragmentation/shaped charge, impact and proximity fuze.
• Penetration: 900 mm rolled homogeneous armour (RHA)
• Guidance: Digitally coded laser beam-riding.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: ADATS

• ADATS at the Canadian Army
• ADATS at FAS.org
• ADATS at Army Technology
• Oerlikon/Lockheed Martin MIM-146 ADATS at designation-systems.net Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles

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