The M48 Chaparral was removed from frontline service with American forces in 1997. By Staff Writer
The M48 Chaparral SAM system consists of an infrared heat seeking missile, a launcher with a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sight, and a tracked vehicle. The defense system was designed to be used in conjunction with the shorter-ranged M163 Vulcan Air Defense System.
The M48 Chaparral Fire Unit may be used either carrier mounted or unmounted. The launcher contains a rotating mount that includes four missile launch rails and provides the gunner the means to aim and fire using automatic or manual tracking. Eight additional missiles are stowed in the vehicle. The missile (a surface-to-air version of the air-to-air AIM-9 Sidewinder missile) is lightweight, supersonic, fire-and-forget, with an infrared homing guidance system capable of engaging fixed-wing and rotary targets.
To enhance the missile's acquisition range and capability the Rosette Scan Seeker (RSS) guidance section has been developed and is effective against infrared jammers. The missile is carried and handled as an assembled single round of ammunition. The system uses an M730A2 cargo carrying, self-propelled tracked vehicle "9A" variant of the M113 Gavin Armored Personnel Carrier, which can be made amphibious by adding an existing swim kit. A towed configuration is also available.
The M48 Chaparral provides mobile short-range (5,250 yards / 2,500 meters) air defense to defeat low-altitude aircraft. The system is designed to be mobile, self-contained and air transportable. The US Army utilized a total of 600 Fire Units with over 5,300 AIM-9 missiles on hand with more units in export for other armies. The M48 Chaparral was discontinued from frontline service at the end of 1997.
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Armored Vehicle Quick Profile
Image Courtesy of the Air War College.
1969
Designation:MIM-72A / M48 Chaparral Classification Type:Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM) Contractor:Loral Aerospace Corporation - USA Country of Origin: United States Number Built: 600
Operators: Chile; Ecuador; Egypt; Israel; Morocco; Portugal; Taiwan; Tunisia; United States
Variants
MIM-72 - Base Series Designation
MIM-72A - Original Production Missiles
MIM-72B - Training missiles
MIM-72C - "Improved" Chaparral; all-aspect missile; increased range; AN/DAW-1 guidance; beginning service in 1978.
MIM-72D - Proposed Experimental Missile
MIM-72E - Revised MIM-72C series missiles with smokeless motor system.
MIM-72F - New-Build missiles with smokeless motor system.
MIM-72G - AN/DAW-2 guidance
MIM-72H - Export Model based on the MIM-72F.
MIM-72J - Revised/Downgraded export model based on the MIM-72G.
M30 - Training Missile
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