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The is a Japanese air defense weapon built around the Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon system as used on the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. The system uses a modified
Type 74 The is a main battle tank (MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a supplement to the earlier Type 61. It was based on the best features of a number of contemporary designs, placing ...
tank chassis. It is also nicknamed by field officers as "Guntank" after the similar-looking
mecha In science fiction, or mechs are giant robots or machines controlled by people, typically depicted as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese after shortening the English loanword or , but the meaning in Japanese is ...
in the ''
Mobile Suit Gundam , also known as ''First Gundam'', ''Gundam 0079'' or simply ''Gundam '79'', is an anime television series, produced and animated by Nippon Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcastin ...
'' series.ガンタンクとか87AWとも呼ばれる。
Also called Guntank or 87AW.


History

As the JSDF began to seek a replacement for the M42 Duster SPAAGs provided by the United States, the Japanese Defense Agency began to issue requirements for the production of a local SPAAG unit to replace the M42.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group and its automobile division is the predecessor of Mitsubishi ...
had been eventually awarded the contract to produce a SPAAG unit to replace its old M42s.


Development

It had been developed in 1987, given the Type 87 designation status, with
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group and its automobile division is the predecessor of Mitsubishi ...
providing the chassis and Japan Steel Works providing the cannon system. Initially, the chassis of the Type 61 tank would be used. Later, it had been rejected and had the chassis of the Type 74 tank used instead as a basis for producing the Type 87 SPAAG. Prior to its development, tests had begun underway in 1982 with a prototype SPAAG unit manufactured in 1983.


Status

In 2010, it was reported that the
Japan Self-Defense Forces The Japan Self-Defense Forces ( ja, 自衛隊, Jieitai; abbreviated JSDF), also informally known as the Japanese Armed Forces, are the unified ''de facto''Since Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution outlaws the formation of armed forces, th ...
had 52 of these vehicles in service.


Operators

*
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( ja, 陸上自衛隊, Rikujō Jieitai), , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service b ...
** Northern Army *** 2nd Division **** 2nd Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion ***** 3rd Antiaircraft company(2 platoons: 8 vehicles) *** 7th Division **** 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment ***** 1st Antiaircraft company(2 platoons: 8 vehicles) ***** 2nd Antiaircraft company(2 platoons: 8 vehicles) ***** 3rd Antiaircraft company(2 platoons: 8 vehicles) ***** 4th Antiaircraft company(2 platoons: 8 vehicles) *** Air Defense School **** Air Defense School Unit ***** 3rd Antiaircraft company(2 platoons: 8 vehicles) *** Ordnance School(Camp Tutiura)


References

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External links


Type-87 self-propelled anti-aircraft machine-gun
at GlobalSecurity.org {{ModernJapaneseAFVs Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons Anti-aircraft guns of Japan Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Armoured fighting vehicles of Japan 35 mm artillery Military vehicles introduced in the 1980s