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M730 Chaparral


Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM) [ 1969 ]



The M48 Chaparral was removed from frontline service with American forces in 1997.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/14/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
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. At its core, the Chaparral system is essentially a modified version of the M548 tracked carrier mated to the M54 launch and control system containing four launch rails. The system uses the M730 series cargo carrying, self-propelled tracked vehicle "9A" variant of the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, which can be made amphibious by adding an existing swim kit. A towed configuration is also available.

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 (the operator can optically guide the missiles to their target, relying on the internal infrared guidance system to complete the job). 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. Prior to firing, the crew unveiled the provided blast shields to protect themselves, the cab and engine compartment from the violent launch blast inherent in such missiles. There was a front winch installed on the tracked carrier.

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.

The M548 saw her cooling systems improved and this benefit was added to existing M730 series models, producing the M730A1 designation. NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) was added as was the new RISE power package while the front winch was removed, resulting in a further designation of M730A2 being used.©MilitaryFactory.com
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Specifications



Loral Aerospace Corporation - USA
Manufacturer(s)
Chile; Ecuador; Egypt; Israel; Morocco; Portugal; Taiwan; Tunisia; United States
Operators National flag of Chile National flag of Ecuador National flag of Egypt National flag of Israel National flag of Morocco National flag of Portugal National flag of Taiwan National flag of Tunisia National flag of the United States
1969
Service Year
United States
National Origin
Active, Limited
Project Status
2
Crew
600
Units


ANTI-AIRCRAFT / AIRSPACE DENIAL
Base model or variant can be used to search, track, and neutralize airborne elements at range.


TRACK-AND-WHEEL
Vehicle utilizes a track-and-wheel arrangement to provide enhanced cross-country travel capability.
CBRN PROTECTION
Crew is provided (either as standard or optional) protection against Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear agents for enhanced survivability in contaminated zones.
NIGHT VISION
Crew has access to night-vision equipment, allowing for low-light or night time operations.


19.3 ft
(5.89 meters)
Length
8.8 ft
(2.68 meters)
Width
9.2 ft
(2.81 meters)
Height
28,299 lb
(12,836 kg)
Weight
14.1 tons
(Light-class)
Tonnage


1 x General Motors GM 6V53 6-cylinder diesel engine developing 212 horsepower at 2,800rpm.
Drive System
35 mph
(56 kph)
Road Speed
300 miles
(483 km)
Road Range


4 x MIM-72A short-range, surface-to-air missiles
AMMUNITION
12 x MIM-72A short-range, surface-to-air missiles


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


Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of the Bulge
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Kursk
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War
Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2
Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War
Military lapel ribbon for experimental military vehicles

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