Type 81 Tan-SAM
81式短距離地対空誘導弾
Overview
Type 81 Tan-SAM
Launch vehicle of the Type 81 Tan-SAM system seen on the move in 2017.
Source: Hunini -
© CC BY-SA 4.0
1989 - 1995 (Tan-SAM kai)
1980 - present? (missiles)
About 1.800 missiles
Type 81
短SAM / Tan-SAM
Description
Introduction
The Type 81 Tan-SAM is a surface to air missile of Japanese origin. It was developed for the Japanese armed forced to fill the gap between the man-portable Stinger and fixed position Hawk missiles. The name Tan-SAM stands for "short-range surface to air missile".
Design
The Tan-SAM system consists of a fire control vehicle equipped with radar and two launch vehicles. The launch vehicles can have up to four missiles ready to launch but are often seen with just two. The total crew of a Tan-SAM system totals 15. All vehicles are based on the Type 73 6x6 truck and are unarmored.
Fire control
The radar vehicle is used to detect the targets and to provide data for the missiles. Upon launch the missiles are fired in the direction of the target and after an inertial flight pattern the missile acquires the target and intercepts it. The original Tan-SAM missile has an infrared seeker and the newest model uses an active radar seeker. Each launcher has an optical director that allows the missiles to be fired without fire control information.
Firepower
The Tan-SAM has a maximum range of 10 km and maximum altitude of 3 km. The original missiles feature a high quality infrared seeker with limited protection against decoys. The latest missiles feature an active radar seeker which is less prone to jamming and extends the maximum range to 14 km.
Mobility
The Type 81 Tan-SAM missile system is based on Type 73 6x6 trucks. This makes the system very mobile on roads, with the mobility in the field being limited. The system is not able to fire on the move and takes about 30 minutes to set up.
Users
The sole operator of the Type 81 is Japan. It was adopted by all three branches of the military. Over recent years several improvement programs have been carried out, resulting in the improved Tan-SAM kai. The Tan-SAM is not offered for export.
System composition
Type 81 launch vehicle
The Type 81 launch vehicle is based on the Isuzu Type 73 6x6 truck. The launcher has two arms on which two missiles can be attached, one on top and one below. A datalink provides the missile with information given by the fire control vehicle before launch. Reloading the missiles takes about 3 minutes.
Type 81 fire control vehicle
The Type 81 fire control vehicle is able to control two launch vehicle. It is based on the same Type 73 6x6 truck as the launch vehicle. A generator powers the fire control equipment and the roof mounted phased array radar, which has a 30 km range. In the Tan-SAM kai upgrade the fire control vehicle is also able to relay mid course updates to the active radar homing missiles.
Type 81 missile
The Tan-SAM is a conventional missile with cruciform wings in the middle and at the rear. Unlike most vehicle launched systems it uses an infrared seeker, which is more common on shoulder launched missiles. Inertial navigation is used to extend the effective range beyond the range of the infrared seeker.
Tan-SAM-1: Original missile with infrared seeker.
Tan-SAM-1B: Similar to Tan-SAM-1 but has an improved infrared seeker.
Tan-SAM-1C: Missile used Tan-SAM Kai upgrade which has an improved rocket motor and uses a phased array active radar seeker.
Details
Media
Type 81 Tan-SAM
Launch vehicle of the Type 81 Tan-SAM system seen in the field. Note the chains on the wheels and the platform for reloading the missiles.
Source: Rikujojieitai Boueisho / www.mod.go.jp
Copyright: CC BY 4.0
Type 81 Tan-SAM
Test launch of a Tan-SAM kai active radar homing missile from an upgraded Type 81 Tan-SAM system in 2014.
Source: Rikujojieitai Boueisho / www.mod.go.jp
Copyright: CC BY 4.0
Type 81 Tan-SAM
Test launch of a Tan-SAM kai active radar homing missile from an upgraded Type 81 Tan-SAM system in 2014.
Source: Rikujojieitai Boueisho / www.mod.go.jp
Copyright: CC BY 4.0
Tan-SAM kai
Tan-SAM launch vehicle with Tan-SAM and Tan-SAM kai missiles.
Source: Los668
Copyright: public domain
Tan-SAM fire control
Tan-SAM fire control vehicle on the move with radar in stowed position.
Source: Japanese internet
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Type 81 missile
Type 81 missile on public display in 2008. Note the associated storage crate next to it on the ground.
Source: Gala8357
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Type 81 Tan-SAM missiles
Two Type 81 Tan-SAM missiles seen on the launch rails with the rounded infrared seeker on the left and the pointed active radar homing seeker on the right.
Source: Los688
Copyright: Public domain
Type 81 Tan-SAM
Close-up view of the optical tracker that allows the Tan-SAM missiles to be fired without radar input.
Source: Max Smith
Copyright: Public domain
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