Type 01 LMAT

Summary

The Type 01 LMAT (01式軽対戦車誘導弾, 01-shiki kei-tai-sensha yūdō-dan) is a Japanese man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile. Development began in 1993 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries and was accepted into service in 2001. During development, the missile was designated with the codename XATM-5.[4] Later it was known briefly as the: ATM-5.[1]

Type 01 LMAT
A Type 01 LMAT launcher on display.
TypeManportable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile
Place of originJapan
Service history
In service2001–present
Used byJapan
Production history
DesignerDefense Agency Technical Research and Development Institute
Designed1993
ManufacturerKawasaki Heavy Industries[1][2]  
Unit cost$260,000 (reusable Command Launch Unit) (2001)
Produced2001–present
Specifications
Mass11.4 kg missile[3]
17.5 kg system[3]
Length970 mm
Diameter140 mm

Caliber140 mm
Effective firing range4 km
SightsThermographic camera (Uncooled infrared detector)
WarheadTandem-charged HEAT warhead
Detonation
mechanism
Impact force

EngineSolid Fuel Rocket
Guidance
system
infrared homing, CCD[2]

In the 1st Airborne Brigade, it is used as its main anti-armor weapon.[5]

History edit

 
A JGSDF soldier aims the LMAT during a military exercise.

As a replacement was needed for the Sumitomo FT-84 recoilless rifle in front-line service with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces,[6] plans to replace it with an Infrared homing anti-tank missile was commissioned by the Defense Agency's Technical Research and Development Institute. In 1993, Kawasaki Heavy Industries was selected to create the said anti-tank missile system. In trials conducted by the JGSDF, the system was known as the XATM-5. The system was created in the same year with live testing in 1996.

Requirements for the system included portability, usage by a single soldier and design-to-cost technology.[4]

In 2001, after 11 years, it was finally placed into service with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces as the Type 01 LMAT which translates from Japanese to Type 01 light anti-tank guided missile. A report filed by the Ministry of Defense in 2005 called for acquisition of an unknown number of 01 LMAT missile systems among various military items purchased from Kawasaki Heavy Industries for 129,700,000,000 Yen.[7]

Design edit

This weapon employs a sophisticated Command Launch Unit (CLU) that is re-loaded for multiple firings. It is not of the disposable (one-shot) type.

The LMAT's missile warhead is tandem HEAT, its two-stage warhead making it effective against ERA protected vehicles.[8]

Application edit

The Type 01 LMAT, while used for infantry in anti-tank roles, can be mounted on the Komatsu LAV for a mobile anti-tank platform.[6]

Operators edit

  •   Japan: 1073 Sets (2010)

Similar weapons edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b ATM-5(01式軽対戦車誘導弾) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  2. ^ a b "01式軽対戦車誘導弾 略称:LMAT" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  3. ^ a b "01式軽対戦車誘導弾(Type 01 LMAT)" (in Japanese). Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. Archived from the original on 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  4. ^ a b "XATM-5 Light Anti-Tank Missile [MAT]". Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  5. ^ 平成22年 習志野 第1空挺団 降下訓練始め (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2010-04-04. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  6. ^ a b 01式 軽対戦車誘導弾 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  7. ^ 平成17年度中央調達実施概況(速報値) (PDF) (in Japanese). Japanese Ministry of Defense. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  8. ^ 01式軽対戦車誘導弾 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

Notes edit

  • Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary, Kenkyusha Limited, Tokyo 1991, ISBN 4-7674-2015-6

External links edit

  • Official JGSDF Page
  • Type 01 LAMAT vs FGM-48 JAVELIN high quality video