# SAM-3

> surface-to-air missile

**Wikidata**: [Q863075](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q863075)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_93_surface-to-air_missile)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sam-3

## Summary
The SAM-3, officially known as the Type 93 surface-to-air missile, is a Japanese air defense system that entered service in 1993. Designed by Toshiba and manufactured in collaboration with Toyota, it is a specialized missile model used exclusively by the Japan Self-Defense Forces. It is a derivative or subclass of the Type 91 man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS).

## Key Facts
- **Official Designation:** Type 93 surface-to-air missile (Type 93 SAM)
- **Primary Operator:** Japan Self-Defense Forces
- **Service Entry:** 1993
- **Country of Origin:** Japan
- **Designer:** Toshiba
- **Manufacturers:** Toshiba and Toyota
- **Classification:** Missile model; subclass of the Type 91 Surface-to-air missile
- **Common Aliases:** SAM3, Toshiba SAM-3, 近SAM (Kin-SAM), 93式近SAM

## FAQs
### Q: Who designed and manufactured the SAM-3?
A: The SAM-3 was designed by the Japanese conglomerate Toshiba. Manufacturing responsibilities are shared between Toshiba and Toyota.

### Q: What is the relationship between the SAM-3 and the Type 91 SAM?
A: The SAM-3 (Type 93) is a subclass of the Type 91 surface-to-air missile. While the Type 91 is a man-portable air-defense system, the SAM-3 is a vehicle-integrated version of that technology.

### Q: When did the SAM-3 first enter military service?
A: The system officially entered service with the Japan Self-Defense Forces in 1993.

### Q: What are the alternative names for this missile system?
A: It is frequently referred to as the Type 93 surface-to-air missile, Type 93 SAM, or by the Japanese shorthand "Kin-SAM" (近SAM).

## Why It Matters
The SAM-3 (Type 93 surface-to-air missile) is a critical component of Japan's domestic defense infrastructure. Its development represents a successful collaboration between two of Japan’s largest industrial entities: Toshiba, an electronics and software conglomerate founded in 1875, and Toyota, a major automotive manufacturer. 

By adapting the Type 91 man-portable air-defense system into the SAM-3, Japan created a mobile, vehicle-mounted solution specifically tailored for the Japan Self-Defense Forces. This system allows for rapid deployment and localized air defense, filling a specific niche in the country's military strategy. Its longevity—having been in service since 1993—underscores its reliability and the importance of domestic production in Japan's defense procurement.

## Notable For
- **Industrial Collaboration:** A rare defense project involving the combined manufacturing expertise of Toshiba and Toyota.
- **System Derivation:** Developed as a direct subclass of the Type 91 man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS).
- **Exclusive Operation:** Utilized solely by the Japan Self-Defense Forces for national air defense.
- **Mobile Integration:** Designed to be mounted on vehicles, such as the Toyota-produced "Koukidousha" high-mobility vehicle.

## Body

### Development and Origins
The SAM-3 was developed in Japan to provide a mobile air defense solution. It was designed by Toshiba, a multinational corporation based in Minato, Tokyo, with a history in the electronics, software, and electrical industries dating back to 1875. The system is technically classified as a subclass of the Type 91 surface-to-air missile, which is a man-portable air-defense system.

### Manufacturing and Service
Production of the SAM-3 involves two major Japanese manufacturers:
*   **Toshiba:** Responsible for the primary design and electronic components.
*   **Toyota:** Involved in the manufacturing process, specifically providing the vehicular platforms often associated with the system.

The missile system officially entered service in 1993. Since its induction, it has been operated exclusively by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JGSDF).

### Technical Nomenclature
The entity is known by several designations in both English and Japanese:
*   **Type 93 surface-to-air missile:** The formal military designation.
*   **Type 93 SAM:** A common abbreviated form.
*   **Kin-SAM (近SAM):** A Japanese nickname indicating its role as a "close-range" surface-to-air missile.
*   **93式近SAM:** The formal Japanese script designation.

The system is cataloged under the Freebase ID /m/060mv0 and is recognized as a specific missile model within the broader category of surface-to-air weaponry.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013