The Air Defence Anti-tank System (ADATS) is a highly mobile low-level air defence unit capable of defeating a wide range of targets. The ADATS has been designed to provide air defence protection for mobile troops as well as ground installations. This self-contained weapon system is mounted on a tracked vehicle and will perform all its tactical functions during day or night and in adverse weather. Its ability to destroy air targets as well as ground targets, makes it a unique and extremely versatile weapon system.
ADATS is operated by a crew of three (driver, commander/radar operator, electro-optical operator), plus 3 personnel in the support vehicle. It carries eight ready-to-fire missiles which travel at a speed of Mach 3+ to a range of over eight kilometres. Its sensors include search radar and an electro-optical device containing a TV and Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR).
ADATS first entered service with the Air Defence Artillery School located at CFB Chatham N. B. in 1989. Currently ADATS are deployed with 4 Air Defence Regiment with batteries located at Moncton and Gagetown, and the Royal Canadian Artillery School in Gagetown. There are 34 ADATS in inventory.
Armament:
8 ADATS missile per launcher (Speed Mach 3, Range 8+ km)
Warhead: 12.5 kg HE fragmentation/shaped charge, impact and proximity fuze. Penetrates: 900 mm of armour
Specifications:
Chassis: M-113A2
Crew: 3 (Driver, Commander, System operator)
Weight: 15.8 t
Speed: 58 km/h
Range: 400 km
Sensors: pulse Doppler radar (Range 25 km), electro-optical device with TV and FLIR
Guidance: Laser digitally coded
Entered service: 1989
Number in service: 34
Canadian Forces ADATS