SAMs in Solís

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SAMs in Solís
Weapon in Just Cause 4
Type	SAM
Usage	Automatic
Maximum ammunition in the weapon	Infinite
To unlock	Unobtainable
List of owners	Black Hand Army of Chaos The Agency

SAMs in Solís (known as Huntsman SAM launcher in the AR Scan) are weapons in Just Cause 4.

Name

Even though the proper name is "Huntsman SAM launcher", this article is named this way to be uniformed with the similar articles for previous games in the Just Cause game series and to include both types.

Appearance

A completely automated surface-to-air missile (SAM) launcher, it composes of four canisters with 4 missiles each and mounted on a 4-wheeled trailer. The Huntsman SAMs are similar to the MIM-104 Patriot 104F (PAC-3) variant.

Faction colors and symbols:

• Black Hand ones are composed of black and red markings. (Standard Black Hand color)
• Army of Chaos captures Black Hand ones and paint them green and yellow with various graffiti markings. (Standard Army of Chaos color)
• The Agency ones are composed of grey, white and orange. (Standard Agency color)

Non-AoC SAMs have an accessible control panel for Rico to hack and convert them to his side.

Performance

These SAMs are usually deployed to defend large military installations or field SAM sites to control local airspace. When an unidentified aircraft enters the airspace, these SAMs will open their pod covers and turn to launch missiles. If the player is in an aircraft, it will emit an audio cue when a SAM has locked on to it. Strangely, there is no warning for air-to-air missile lock-ons.

As mentioned before, SAMs that do not belong to AoC can be hacked to deter enemy air support, such as when liberating regions from enemy control. All the player needs to do is walk up to its control panel and press the interact button (E on PC).

Performance-wise, these SAMs are weaker than their equivalents in past games in terms of damage. At the bare minimum it takes 4-5 direct hits to destroy a single helicopter.

Apart from that, there are actually several other reasons why they are so ineffective against aircraft in general, especially planes.

• Flight performance: Unlike real SAMs which fly several times faster than their intended targets in order to catch up, these missiles barely out-speed the Fellhawk Jet Fighter. Similarly to real SAMs, they have a poor turning circle, as a result of their high speed. This makes them ineffective at fighting well maneuvering small targets such as drones.
• Range: These launchers have a detection radius of ~1 km, much shorter than the actual range of its missiles. Additionally, during heat, enemy aircraft typically spawn in only a few hundred meters and can overshoot the missile by the time it fires, eventually causing the missile to just wander off without a target. Real SAMs are often part of defense networks which enable them to target enemy aircraft from a great distance, so they have more than enough time to compensate for any deviation when airborne.
• Altitude: Solís' highest possible altitude is much lower than the maximum altitude of modern military aircraft, resulting in NPC planes never flying higher than a couple hundred meters, unless the player climbs higher for any pursing NPC aircraft to follow. Low-flying aircraft give little time for missiles to react, leading to the missing most of the time. Real fighter engagement often occurs at higher altitudes to avoid interference, and as such were a SAM to intervene, the missile would have a much easier time following the aircraft. Additionally, modern armies continue to use AA Guns and MANPADS against low-flying aircraft, especially helicopters, due to their general consistency than compensates for the SAMs' disadvantage at close range.

Towing

Due to how they're mounted, they may be attached to a semi-trailer trucks and towed along. As such, its anchors will raise automatically.

Any of the 5 semi-trailer trucks can be used to tow a SAM trailer. When the trailer is connected to the truck (same button as the one to detach a trailer), the SAM takes about 3 seconds to raise the stabilizer legs.

The truck can only turn 45 degrees to either side under the trailer and the trailer seems to be at least as heavy as the truck, so steering can be difficult. It's advised to drive at a reasonable speed.

Locations

• Three appear in Operation Whiteout, where Rico could hack them as a sort of tutorial. However, there's no need to do so as there are no enemy aircraft for them to engage.
• All Black Hand bases have them. After said bases have been taken over, these SAMs also fall under Army of Chaos control and are repainted in their colors.
• Sometimes at the front line.
• At the Agency submarines. These are added by the Danger Rising DLC.

Glitches

 PS4    PC   Sometimes after completing the mission required to clear a base, some of the SAMs may remain Black Hand controlled, with no livery change or allegiance shift.

Gallery

In Black Hand Faction colors and symbols.

In Army of Chaos faction colors.

Name revealed by the AR scan.

Shooting at a plane in a trailer.

Próspero Hauler and Flatbed trailer truck can both tow these.

Rico inspects the connectors.

Notice the stabilizing legs. The left trailer is connected to a truck.

Towing can be troublesome.

Although a little hard to tell, this is a rebel SAM hitting a Black Hand PA Microfighter.

Rebel SAMs loaded on a Spearhead Transport, obliterating everything that flies.

Video