Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
Mobile vehicle with a dedicated anti-aircraft capability
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An anti-aircraft vehicle, also known as a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) or self-propelled air defense system (SPAD), is a mobile vehicle with a dedicated anti-aircraft capability.

Specific weapon systems used include machine guns, autocannons, larger guns, or surface-to-air missiles, and some mount both guns and longer-ranged missiles (e.g. the Pantsir missile system). Platforms used include both trucks and heavier combat vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers and tanks, which add protection from aircraft, artillery, and small arms fire for front line deployment.
Anti-aircraft guns are usually mounted in a quickly-traversing turret with a high rate of elevation, for tracking fast-moving aircraft. They are often in dual or quadruple mounts, allowing a high rate of fire. In addition, most anti-aircraft guns can be used in a direct-fire role against surface targets. Today, surface-to-air missiles (generally mounted on similar turrets) have largely supplanted anti-aircraft guns.
Examples
Some examples of modern SPAAG:
| Model | Manufacturer | Image | Origin | Platforms | Weapons | Caliber and ammunitions | Number built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS/SA5 SPAAG | Norinco | — | Type 08 | 1 × Gatling gun (6 barrels)
2 × FN-6A |
30 × 113 mm
— |
— | [1][2] | |
| PGZ-95 SPAAA | Norinco | — | 4 × PG-87 | 25 x 183 mmB | ~ 270 | [4] | ||
| PGZ-04/A SPAAA | 4 × Type 87
4 × FN-6 IR missiles |
Upgraded variant of PGZ-95 SPAAA[4] | ||||||
| PGZ-09 SPAAA | Norinco | PLZ-05 chassis | 2 × PG99 | 35 x 228 mm | — | [5][6] | ||
| PGZ 625
PGL-XX (Code name 625) |
Norinco | — | Type 08 | 1 × Gatling gun (6 barrels) | 25 × 287 mm | — | [7][8] | |
| PGL-12 (Type 12) | Norinco | — | Type 08 | 1 × 35 mm revolver cannon
4 × FN-6 in PGZ-04A pod. |
35 x 228 mm | — | [7] | |
| Machbet | IAI
(Israeli Aircraft Industries) |
M113 | 1 × M61A1 Vulcan Gatling gun (6 barrels)
4 × FIM-92 Stinger |
20 × 102 mm
— |
— | Entered service in 1997, retired in 2006 [9] | ||
| OTOMATIC
"OTO Main Anti-aircraft Tank for Intercept and Combat" |
OTO-Melara | Hulls of the: | 1 × Cannone 76/62 OTO-Breda Super Rapido | 76 × 636 mmR | 2 | [10] | ||
| SIDAM 25 | OTO Breda | M113 | 4 × Oerlikon KBA | 25 × 137 mm | 275 | [11] | ||
| Stryker M-SHORAD
"Maneuver Short Range Air Defense" |
Leonardo DRS | Stryker | 1 × XM914 (M230LF chain gun)
1 M240 (7.62mm) 4 × FIM-92 Stinger |
30 × 113 mm
— — |
312 to 361 | [13] | ||
| Type 87 SPAAG | MHI
(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) |
Type 74 tank | 2 × Oerlikon KDA | 35 x 228 mm | 52 | [14] | ||
| Kongsberg RS6
MADIS RWS MK2 "Marine Air Defense Integrated System US Marine Corps Ground Based Air Defense" |
Kongsberg | — | Oshkosh JLTV | 1 × XM914E1 (M230LF chain gun)
1 × M240C (7.62mm) |
30 × 113 mm
— |
— | Future USMC SHORAD system[15][16] | |
| PZA Loara | Radwar | T-72M chassis | 2 × Oerlikon KDA | 35 x 228 mm | 2 - 4 | [17] | ||
| SA-35 | PIT-RADWAR
(Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa) |
— | Jelcz 6×6 | 1 × Oerlikon KDA | 35 x 228 mm
Air burst programmable rounds |
— | [18]
Developed from AM-35K naval gun. | |
| ZSU-23-4MP Biała | ZMT SA
(Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów) |
— | 4 × AZP-23
4 × Grom IR missiles |
23 × 152 mm
— |
~ 70 | Polish modernised variant [19] | ||
| Mangart 25 | Valhalla Turrets | Oshkosh JLTV | 1 × Oerlikon KBA
1 × FN MAG Option for short-range IR missiles |
25 × 137 mm | — | [20] | ||
| K263 Cheongoong SPAAG | Doosan | K200A1 KIFV | 1 × KM167 A1 VADS
Gatling gun (6 barrels) |
20 × 102 mm | 200 | [21] | ||
| K30 Bi Ho
"Flying Tiger" |
Doosan | K200A1 KIFV | 2 × Oerlikon KCB | 30 × 170 mm | 176 | [21] | ||
| K30 Bi Ho Hybrid
"Flying Tiger" |
Hanwha Aerospace | K808 White Tiger | 2 × Oerlikon KCB
2 × LIG Nex1 Chiron |
30 × 170 mm
— |
— | [22][23] | ||
| K30 Bi Ho II
"Flying Tiger" |
Joint Venture
SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries) |
— | K808 White Tiger | 1 × Oerlikon KCB-B
4 SAM |
30 × 170 mm
Air burst programmable munitions — |
— | In development [24] | |
| Lvkv 9040
Luftvärnskanonvagn 9040 |
BAE Systems Bofors | CV90 | 1 × 40 mm Bofors L/70B autocannon | 40 × 365 mm | 30 | [25][26] | ||
| Flakpanzer Gepard | Oerlikon Contraves
Siemens-Albis |
2 × Oerlikon KDA | 35 x 228 mm | 570 | [29][30] | |||
| Flakpanzer Gepard 1A2 | 2 × Rheinmetall KDG 35/1000 | 35 x 228 mm
Airburst programmable rounds AHEAD | ||||||
| Skyranger 30 | Rheinmetall Air Defence (Oerlikon) | Oerlikon KCE
Option for short-range IR missiles (FIM-92 Stinger or Mistral) |
30 × 173 mm
Air burst programmable rounds AHEAD — |
93 ordered
(48 more planned, 9 in option) |
[37][38][39] | |||
| Skyranger 35 | Rheinmetall Air Defence (Oerlikon) | 1 × Rheinmetall KDG 35/1000 | 35 x 228 mm
Air burst programmable rounds AHEAD |
— | Turret based on Skyshield / MANTIS[37] | |||
| GÜRZ | Aselsan | — | Seyit 8×8 (Anadolu Savunma) | 1 × KDC-02 | 35 x 228 mm
ATOM airburst — |
— | Comparable to Pantsir, in development[40] | |
| KORKUT | Aselsan | (Turret adapted to land platform) |
2 × KDC-02 | 35 x 228 mm
ATOM airburst |
13 | [41] | ||
| Marksman | Marconi Electronic Systems | 2 × Oerlikon KDA | 35 x 228 mm | 7 | [42][43] | |||
See also
- 4M (artillery)
- Assault gun
- Flakpanzer, a collective term for German anti-aircraft tanks, particularly those used in World War II.
- List of anti-aircraft guns
- Man-portable air-defense system
- Self-propelled artillery
- Tank destroyer
Footnotes
- License produced Oerlikon GDF-002 by China.
- Cannon used since Oerlikon GDF-006 series with AHEAD programmable ammunition capacity.[31]
- License produced Oerlikon GDF-002 by MKE using the programmable ATOM 35mm ammunition.