Type 79 Jyu-MAT

History

As Cold War armor protection continued to evolve, so did its counters in the form of anti-tank missile launchers. For the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), this is an entirely new system after the original 1964 Type 64 ATM. After the Type 64 was built, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) supplied it to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force "Jyu-MAT" as the Type 79 in 1984. The Type 79 represents the most advanced solution in service with Army units. The design of the Type 79 (like the Type 64) is credited to the Defense Agency's Institute of Technology Research and Development.

Unlike the Type 64, the Type 79 is a more portable weapon and uses the more precise SACLOS ("Semi-Automatic Sight Command") wire-guided system approach.

Overall, the Type 79 is a complete tank destroyer system including mounting hardware, launchers, optics/guidance kits and missiles. The rocket weighs 15.7 kilograms and the launch vehicle weighs 278 kilograms. The missile is topped with a 4.2kg shaped charge warhead, giving it a reasonable penetration value against Cold War-era enemy tanks, mostly from the Soviet Union.

Depending on the type of rocket, the explosion is carried out by a shock explosion or a delayed ignition system, of which two main models proved themselves. After leaving the launch tube, the rocket relies on an onboard rocket motor for propulsion, while a spring-loaded tail provides additional stability. As a wire-guided weapon, the operator uses the launcher to "guide" the missile to the intended target through tangled wires. While this limits useful combat range, it provides the necessary long-range accuracy.

In addition to the standard HEAT warhead, there is also an armor-piercing fragmentation warhead designed to engage "soft-skinned" targets such as offshore vessels. The launcher is designed to be used on its basic heavy duty tripod or attached to a dedicated mount for vehicle use.

This configuration also allows remote operation of the launcher when trying to set up an anti-tank ambush.

The Type 79 Jyu-MAT is also known as "KAM-9". The follow-up series, the Type 87 "Chu-MAT", was a smaller, more portable system introduced in 1989 with a laser guidance system, although its role in tank and tank killing remained the same.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes