The or SAM-4 or is a Japanese developed

surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...

system currently in service with the

JGSDF The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( ja, 陸上自衛隊, Rikujō Jieitai), , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service b ...

. The SAM's vehicle chassis is based on the Kato Works Ltd/

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group and its automobile division is the predecessor of Mitsubishi Moto ...

NK series heavy

crane truck A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist rope, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It is mainly used for lifting heavy objects and transporti ...

. It uses a state-of-the-art

active electronically scanned array An active electronically scanned array (AESA) is a type of phased array antenna, which is a computer-controlled array antenna in which the beam of radio waves can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving the an ...

radar.

Overview

The Chu-SAM air defense system is based on 8×8 cross country unarmored trucks, and includes a command center, radar unit, launcher, and transloader, with each unit equipped with six missiles that travel at Mach 2.5. The system can track up to 100 targets simultaneously and target 12 at the same time, engaging fighter jets, helicopters, and

cruise missile A cruise missile is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhea ...

s.100 Percent of Targets Destroyed: Japan Is Testing New Missile in US
- Thediplomat.com, 13 November 2015

Upgrade

In 2014, the JGSDF began evaluation of the upgraded Chu-SAM Kai, which uses improved sensor and networking features for better range and targeting of more complex cruise and anti-surface missile threats. During the summer of 2015, 10 Chu-SAM Kai missiles were test fired at

White Sands Missile Range White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) is a United States Army military testing area and firing range located in the US state of New Mexico. The range was originally established as the White Sands Proving Ground on 9July 1945. White Sands National P ...

in the United States and successfully intercepted various targets, including the

GQM-163 Coyote The GQM-163 Coyote is a supersonic sea skimming target built by Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK) and used by the United States Navy as a successor to the MQM-8 Vandal. Orbital's proposal was chosen over the MA-31, a joint venture betwee ...

supersonic target drone; White Sands hosted the launches because the location's large size and controlled airspace allowed for testing conditions unavailable in Japan. Operational tests of the Chu-SAM Kai took place at White Sands, in 2016.Japanese Test Engages Supersonic Target on WSMR
- Army.mil, 5 November 2015 The Chu-SAM Kai missile also planned to be converted to the long-range ship-to-air missile with a separable rocket booster.Defense Programs and Budget of Japan FY2017, page.31
- mod.go.jp, March 2017

Deployment

* since 2003 * at Camp Matsudo in

Matsudo, Chiba 260px, Matsudo City Hall is a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 498,575 in 242,981 households and a population density of 8100 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Matsudo is loca ...

since 2007 * in Ono, Hyōgo since 2008

Gallery

image:JGSDF Type03 SAM (launcher) 04.jpg, Fire position image:JGSDF Type03 SAM (rader) 01.jpg, Radar vehicle with active electronically scanned array image:JGSDF Type03 SAM (transporter) 01.jpg, Ammo transporter image:JGSDF Type03 SAM (rader) 03.jpg, Power vehicle

Notes

External links