View source for Air Defense Anti-Tank System

{{Infobox Weapon
| name=ADATS
| image=[[File:ADATS 2008.JPG|300px]]
| caption=ADATS on display for the 2008 [[Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo]]
|origin={{SUI}}
|type=[[Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon]]
|is_vehicle=yes
| used_by = {{CAN}} (M113 mounted)<br>{{THA}} (Fixed emplacement)
| length=4.86 m
| width=2.69 m
| height=
| weight=15.8 tonnes
| suspension=[[torsion-bar]]
| max speed=58 km/h
| vehicle_range=400 km
| primary_armament=8 ADATS missiles
| secondary_armament=-
| armour=12–38 mm [[aluminium]]
| engine=6-cylinder [[two-stroke]] [[diesel engine|diesel]] [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]]/[[Detroit Diesel]] 6V53
| crew=3 (commander, driver, system operator)
|    engine_power=212 hp (158 kW)
|        pw_ratio=13 hp/tonne
}}

The '''Air Defense Anti-Tank System''' (ADATS) is a dual-purpose [[Short Range Air Defense|short range]] [[surface-to-air missile|surface-to-air]] and [[anti-tank guided missile|anti-tank]] missile system based on the [[M113 armored personnel carrier|M113]]A2 vehicle. It is manufactured by the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] company [[Oerlikon-Contraves]], a member of the [[Rheinmetall|Rheinmetall Defence Group]] of [[Germany]]. 

== History ==

The ADATS came about as the result of an extensive competition during which it was selected by the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] for the Forward Area Air-Defense (FAAD)<ref>[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/chaparral.htm MIM-72 / M48 Chaparral Forward Area Air-Defense System [FAADS<nowiki>]</nowiki>], Federation of American Scientists Web site.  Accessed 2 January 2007.</ref> 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 Forces Land Force Command|Canadian Army]] as a mobile, M113 based system, and in [[Thailand]] as a fixed, ground shelter defense system. The ADATS missile is a [[laser guidance|laser-guided]] [[supersonic]] missile with a range of 10 kilometres, with an [[electro-optics|electro-optical]] sensor with TV and [[Forward looking infrared|Forward Looking Infrared]] (FLIR). The carrying vehicle has also a conventional two-dimensional radar with an effective range of over 25 kilometres.

=== Modernisation program ===
{{Main|Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle}}

In September 2005, the [[Government of Canada|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]], [[Indirect fire|non-line-of-sight]] (NLOS) missile (using [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s (UAVs) to gather required intelligence and target location at a range of 8&nbsp;km or more) and low-cost precision kill (LCPK) missile (fireable on direct shot at an 8&nbsp;km+ range), based on a 2.75-inch rocket and advanced Battle Management Command and Control Communication Computer and Information (BMC41), including [[TADIL-A|Link 11]]/[[Link 16|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 [[Canadian Expeditionary Force Command|expeditionary]] [[Canadian Forces Air Command|air]], land, and [[Canadian Forces Maritime Command|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.

However, 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 (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]] at the time [[Gordon O'Connor]].<ref name="houseofcommons">{{citation|url= http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2735080&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1|title=39th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION - Standing Committee on National Defence|date=2007-02-22|accessdate=2009-07-21|publisher=Canadian Parliament}}</ref>

==== Weapon systems ====

The [[Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle]] (MMEV) will feature a wide array of weapons for different engagements. Its direct fire with low cost rockets will be able to take down direct targets at an 8+ km range with an astonishing damage effect as it will fire multiple rockets on targets. The promotional videos of the MMEV show it firing eight [[rocket]]s at a single target without missing once. Note that the dub target was not moving, but the attack left only small debris of the armor leaving no chance for any enemy vehicle encountered.

Its second ground-fire function features a guided [[missile]], again with an 8+ km range that is guided onto the target. This can be used to engage long-range targets such as light artillery but doing heavy damage.  The non-line-of-sight capability allows the ADATS crew to use UAVs to spot targets under cover and fire its laser-guided missile over any obstacle.

The MMEV also features the regular ADATS air defence system which can fire at a 10&nbsp;km range to engage [[helicopter]]s and [[fixed-wing aircraft]]. 

It is believed that two [[FN MAG|C6 machine guns]] will be mounted on the MMEV, for self-defence.

== Missile ==
* Length: 2.05 m
* Diameter: 125&nbsp;mm
* Launch weight: approx. 51&nbsp;kg
* Speed: Mach 3+
* Range: 10&nbsp;km
* Ceiling: 7,000 m
* Warhead: 12.5&nbsp;kg [[high explosive]] (HE) [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmentation]]/[[shaped charge]], [[Fuse (explosives)|impact]] and [[proximity fuze]].
* Penetration: 900&nbsp;mm [[rolled homogeneous armour]] (RHA) 
* Guidance: Digitally coded [[laser]] [[Beam riding|beam-riding]].

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|ADATS}}
* [http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_display.asp?product=65&more=65 ADATS] at the Canadian Army
* [http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=3734&qid=&qpage=0&lang=3&query=mmev Canada has announced its intent to acquire MMEV] at Rheinmetall
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/adats.htm ADATS] at FAS.org
* [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/adats/index.html ADATS] at Army Technology
* [http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-146.html Oerlikon/Lockheed Martin MIM-146 ADATS] at designation-systems.net Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles

{{US missiles}}
{{Canadian Forces Land Force Command}}

[[Category:Modern anti-tank missiles]]
[[Category:Modern surface-to-air missiles]]
[[Category:Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons of Canada]]
[[Category:Weapons of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Armoured fighting vehicles of Canada]]
[[Category:Abandoned military projects of the United States]]

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