The or SAM-4 or is a Japanese developed surface-to-air missile system in service with the JGSDF. The SAM's vehicle chassis is based on the Kato Works Ltd/Mitsubishi Heavy Industries NK series heavy crane truck. It uses a state-of-the-art active electronically scanned array radar.FUTURE POSSIBILITIES: A PRESENTATION OF THE CHU-SAM MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM

History The Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) developed the Type 03 in 1990 alongside Mitsubishi Electronics Corporation (MEC).https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/defense-systems/type-03/ The first prototypes were developed in 2001.https://web.archive.org/web/20100529211459/http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Land-Based-Air-Defence/Chu-SAM-Japan.html

The Type 03 was operational in the JGSDF in 2003. According to the TRDI, they stated that the Type 03 is the successor of the Improved Hawk missiles.https://web.archive.org/web/20100529034655/http://www.mod.go.jp/trdi/en/programs/gm/gm.html The missile was tested on November 20, 2006 at the MacGregor Range, White Sands Missile Range.

On November 25, 2025, the Type 03 was deployed in Yonaguni.https://www.twz.com/air/japans-plan-to-put-sams-on-strategic-island-70-miles-from-taiwan-could-be-just-the-beginning

On November 30, 2025, talks were underway between Tokyo and Manila on potentially exporting the Type 03. On December 4, 2025, Tokyo has denied reports that the Type 03 were planned to be exported.https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-12-04/japan-philippines-chu-sam-missile-sale-19976503.html

Design The Chu-SAM air defense system is based on 8×8 cross country unarmored trucks, and includes a command center, radar unit, launcher, and transloader, with each unit equipped with six missiles that travel at Mach 2.5. The system can track up to 100 targets simultaneously and target 12 at the same time, engaging fighter jets, helicopters, and cruise missiles.100 Percent of Targets Destroyed: Japan Is Testing New Missile in US - Thediplomat.com, 13 November 2015

Upgrade

Chu-SAM Kai In 2014, the JGSDF began evaluation of the upgraded Chu-SAM Kai, which uses improved sensor and networking features for better range and targeting of more complex cruise and anti-surface missile threats. During the summer of 2015, 10 Chu-SAM Kai missiles were test fired at White Sands Missile Range in the United States and successfully intercepted various targets, including a GQM-163 Coyote supersonic target drone; White Sands hosted the launches because the location's large size and controlled airspace allowed for testing conditions unavailable in Japan.Japanese Test Engages Supersonic Target on WSMR - Army.mil, 5 November 2015 Operational tests of the Chu-SAM Kai took place at White Sands, in 2016.

All procurements are expected to be completed by the FY2032 budget.

Type 23 ship-to-air missile The Chu-SAM Kai missile is also planned to be converted to the long-range ship-to-air missile with an ejectable rocket booster.Defense Programs and Budget of Japan FY2017, page.31 - mod.go.jp, March 2017 It was successfully test fire onboard JS Asuka in December 2022. The new missile's main body is based on the technology of the Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile (modified), which is being deployed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), and the booster is based on the technology of the Type 07 VL-ASROC in service with the JMSDF.

The ship-to-air missile, an upgraded version of the Chu-SAM Kai formerly known as the A-SAM, began procurement in FY2024 as the Type 23 ship-to-air missile.防衛力抜本的強化の進捗と予算 令和6年度予算の概要. p.27防衛力抜本的強化の進捗と予算 令和7年度概算要求の概要. p.29

Chu-SAM Kai (future version) From FY2023 to FY2028, the Chu-SAM Kai will be upgraded to develop a new missile with enhanced intercept capability against short-range ballistic missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles.令和4年度政策評価（事前の事業評価）03式中距離地対空誘導弾（改善型）能力向上

Deployment since 2003 at Camp Matsudo in Matsudo, Chiba since 2007 in Ono, Hyōgo since 2008

Gallery

Orders Fiscal yearChū-SAMNotes 1 battery = 4 fire unitsType 03 Medium-range surface-to-air guided missileType 03Type 03# fire units(# batteries)# fire units(# batteries)# fire units(# batteries)2026–4(1)–2025–8(2)–2024–2(0.5)–2023–4(1)–2022–4(1)–2021–4(1)–2020–4(1)–2019–4(1)–2018–4(1)–2017–4(1)–20164(1)––20154(1)––20144(1)––20130––20128(2)––20114(1)––20104(1)––20098(2)––20084(1)––20074(1)––20064(1)––20058(2)––20041(0.25)––20032(0.5)––Total59 (14.75)38 (9.5 + )––97 (24.25 + )–

See also List of missiles Anti-ballistic missile Comparable SAMs:

Notes

External links

03式中距離地対空誘導弾 Chu-SAM in global security.org