TYPE-87 AWSP

At the end of the 1970s, Japan initiated studies for a new vehicle to replace their aged M-42 Duster fleet in service with the JSDF. Tests were made using a Type-61 medium tank chassis with 75mm American AA guns, but were discarded due to their weight, lack of mobility and low rate of fire. At the beginning of 1983 a prototype was presented with a very similar turret to that mounted on the German Gepard anti aircraft vehicle, installed over a Type-74 MBT chassis. The fire control system and the tracking and control radars were provided by Mitshubishi Electric Corporation, and finally in 1987 the “Type-87 self propelled anti aircraft gun” was presented. The armament selected was the Oerlikon KDA 35mm guns, just like the German Gepard vehicle, which can fire up to 550 rounds per minute each, up to 4,000 meters altitude in air defense role. They are also powerful ground support vehicles, reaching targets up to 5,500 meters. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built 180 Type-87 vehicles, although currently around 50 examples are still in service.

TYPE-87 AWSP gallery and more info