The ADATS Missile System can be mounted on a variety of mobile platforms such as the M113 and M3 Bradley. For the Canadian CFLLADS, it is mounted on the M113 armoured vehicle. It is also available in a shelter-based version for fixed and in a palletised version which can be integrated with the Oerlikon Contraves Skyshield Air Defence System.

The ADATS network coordinates the fire power of up to six ADATS spaced at distances up to 20 km. Any ADATS can be the network master controller and the network can link with other command facilities in real time.

Fully automatic real-time data exchange includes airspace control data, weapon control orders and fire control orders, target identification data, individual system status and vehicle position, threat prioritisation and optimised weapon allocation, engagement status, weapon status and jammer triangulation data. The 6-unit network can engage up to 48 air or ground targets.

The links use frequency-agile radios or landline. Over 2000 frequencies with 25 kHz channel spacing are used in the frequency agile radio link. The system architecture provides full duplex data exchange and simultaneous half duplex voice communications.

The ADATS missile can engage all types of low-level threats, including attack helicopters exposed at stand-off ranges at extremely low altitudes. The system has a 10 km range against air or ground targets. The missile has laser beamriding guidance and the laser guidance grid is digitally encoded for precision and immunity to countermeasures. It is equipped with smokeless boost-coast propulsion. The missile has a speed of Mach 3+ and manoeuvrability of 60 g.

The missile has a laser fuse with variable fuse delay automatically set at missile launch. The combined fragmentation and shaped charge warhead weighs 12 kg and has demonstrated penetration of over 900 mm of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA). A total of eight missiles are carried.

The ADATS' electro-optical systems for target tracking and missile guidance are supplied by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control and are based on an enhanced performance version of the Apache helicopter TADS/PNVS. The forward looking infra-red (FLIR), based on the U.S. Common Module and operating in the 8 to 12 micron band, provides full operational capability in adverse weather. Other systems include a near infra-red vidicon television for day use, a carbon dioxide laser for missile guidance and a Neodinium YaG laser rangefinder operating at 1.06 microns.

The ADATS pulse doppler X-band radar which is used for target acquisition and identification allows ADATS to operate autonomously. The ADATS radar can also assign targets to other ADATS in a Command, Control and Communications network with their radars in silent mode. The capability of the radar to operate in track-while-scan mode and the 20-target computer-aided threat evaluation in netted configuration assist the operator in weapon allocation to highest priority threats. The system also has search-on-the move and sector search programming. Range is 25 km.

Initial target detection to missile launch takes less than five seconds. The engagement sequence begins with target detection and turret slew using radar, FLIR and television systems against air targets and FLIR and television against ground targets. The tracker search and target acquisition sequence is carried out using the FLIR and the television sighting system. Missile launch and guidance uses FLIR and television target tracking and carbon dioxide laser beam riding missile guidance. The time required to launch a second missile following completion of the first engagement is less than two seconds.