RBS 70
Encyclopedia
RBS 70 is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) designed for anti-aircraft warfare
in all climate zones and with little to no support from other forces. Originally designed and manufactured by the Swedish
defence firm
of Bofors Defence
(now Saab Bofors Dynamics
, since 2000). It uses the RB 70 missile which is also in use in a number of other Swedish missile
systems.
systems (RBS 77 and RBS 97 "Swedish HAWK"), American Redeyes
(RBS 69) and the Swedish Bofors m/48
AAA
. The main reason for choosing to base air defense around a short-range, low-cost system is that at the time the doctrine of the Swedish Army
was to fight a war where mobility and low maintenance are of great importance.
) or some other information gathering source. When the target has been acquired by the operator he turns off the safety, which switches on the main laser and sends out an IFF
signal and if positive makes firing impossible. If the operator is confident that he has a good track he fires. The missile then flies in the beam of the laser from the sight, adjusting its position constantly to stay within the beam. This puts a lot of pressure on the operator who needs to have a very steady aim. If the missile is guided to within 30 meters of the target a kill is 95% assured.
The exhaust is vented in the missile's midsection and the laser beam riding system is fitted in the tail, where it is extremely difficult to jam.
RBS 70 has been constantly updated and improved, the first versions (Mk 0) had a short range and limited kill capabilities but this was much improved in later versions. Mk 1 and Mk 2 followed shortly and are the standard RBS 70 with a range of 5,000–6,000 m and a ceiling of 3,000 m. Currently, RBS 70 is operational in 18 customer countries, on all continents and in arctic, desert, and tropical environments.
In 2003 the BOLIDE upgrade system was introduced to the RBS 70. The BOLIDE missile is an RBS 70 Mk 2 upgrade that is faster (Mach 2 vs Mach 1.6), with a range up to 8 km (5 mi) and can reach an altitude of 5 km. The BOLIDE has also a new warhead, which is a shaped charge
with a pre-fragmented jacket, the adaptable proximity fuze
gives it full effectiveness against a wider variety of targets, and new reprogrammable electronics gives it the possibility to engage attack cruise missiles and UAVs. Deliveries were initiated in 2005.
(successor company of Bofors Defence) announced the introduction of the new RBS 70 New Generation (RBS 70 NG). The upgraded version included an improved sighting system capable of night vision and improved training and after-action review features.
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Brazil
Czech Republic
Finland Germany
: adapted the RBS 70 missile as the basis for their ASRAD-R
(Advanced Short Range Air Defence System - RBS) mounted on Wiesel 2 Ozelot (LeFlaSys Launcher) Indonesia
Iran
Ireland Latvia Lithuania
Norway Pakistan Singapore
, Republic of Singapore Air Force
: as part of the national integrated air-defence system around its air bases Sweden
Thailand Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
Venezuela
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
in all climate zones and with little to no support from other forces. Originally designed and manufactured by the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
defence firm
Defense contractor
A defense contractor is a business organization or individual that provides products or services to a military department of a government. Products typically include military aircraft, ships, vehicles, weaponry, and electronic systems...
of Bofors Defence
Bofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
(now Saab Bofors Dynamics
Saab Bofors Dynamics
Saab Bofors Dynamics, located in Karlskoga and Linköping, Sweden, is a subsidiary of Saab AB that specializes in military materiel such as missile systems and anti-tank systems....
, since 2000). It uses the RB 70 missile which is also in use in a number of other Swedish missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
systems.
History
The RBS 70 was developed to supply the Swedish air defense with a low-cost, easy-to-use and effective short-range SAM system. Before RBS 70 the mainstay of Swedish air defense was American HAWKHawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
systems (RBS 77 and RBS 97 "Swedish HAWK"), American Redeyes
FIM-43 Redeye
The General Dynamics FIM-43 Redeye was a man-portable surface-to-air missile system. It used infrared homing to track its target. Production was terminated in September 1969 after about 85,000 rounds had been built - in anticipation of the Redeye II, which later became the FIM-92 Stinger...
(RBS 69) and the Swedish Bofors m/48
Bofors 40 mm gun
The Bofors 40 mm gun is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
AAA
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
. The main reason for choosing to base air defense around a short-range, low-cost system is that at the time the doctrine of the Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
was to fight a war where mobility and low maintenance are of great importance.
Design
The RBS 70 is a short-range man-portable (MANPADS), laser guided missile system. The operator receives instructions on the position of the target from a local SLT (combat-control terminal) which is about the size of a laptop. The SLT in turn receives information through an encoded radio broadcast made by either a radar station (PS 90, PS 70GIRAFFE Radar
The Saab GIRAFFE Radar is a family of land and naval two- or three-dimensional G/H-band radar-based surveillance and air defense command and control systems tailored for operations with medium- and Short Range Air Defense missile or gun systems or for use as gap-fillers in a larger air defense...
) or some other information gathering source. When the target has been acquired by the operator he turns off the safety, which switches on the main laser and sends out an IFF
Identification friend or foe
In telecommunications, identification, friend or foe is an identification system designed for command and control. It is a system that enables military and national interrogation systems to identify aircraft, vehicles, or forces as friendly and to determine their bearing and range from the...
signal and if positive makes firing impossible. If the operator is confident that he has a good track he fires. The missile then flies in the beam of the laser from the sight, adjusting its position constantly to stay within the beam. This puts a lot of pressure on the operator who needs to have a very steady aim. If the missile is guided to within 30 meters of the target a kill is 95% assured.
The exhaust is vented in the missile's midsection and the laser beam riding system is fitted in the tail, where it is extremely difficult to jam.
RBS 70 has been constantly updated and improved, the first versions (Mk 0) had a short range and limited kill capabilities but this was much improved in later versions. Mk 1 and Mk 2 followed shortly and are the standard RBS 70 with a range of 5,000–6,000 m and a ceiling of 3,000 m. Currently, RBS 70 is operational in 18 customer countries, on all continents and in arctic, desert, and tropical environments.
In 2003 the BOLIDE upgrade system was introduced to the RBS 70. The BOLIDE missile is an RBS 70 Mk 2 upgrade that is faster (Mach 2 vs Mach 1.6), with a range up to 8 km (5 mi) and can reach an altitude of 5 km. The BOLIDE has also a new warhead, which is a shaped charge
Shaped charge
A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Various types are used to cut and form metal, to initiate nuclear weapons, to penetrate armor, and in the oil and gas industry...
with a pre-fragmented jacket, the adaptable proximity fuze
Proximity fuze
A proximity fuze is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive device automatically when the distance to target becomes smaller than a predetermined value or when the target passes through a given plane...
gives it full effectiveness against a wider variety of targets, and new reprogrammable electronics gives it the possibility to engage attack cruise missiles and UAVs. Deliveries were initiated in 2005.
Latest upgrade
In 2011, Saab Bofors DynamicsSaab Bofors Dynamics
Saab Bofors Dynamics, located in Karlskoga and Linköping, Sweden, is a subsidiary of Saab AB that specializes in military materiel such as missile systems and anti-tank systems....
(successor company of Bofors Defence) announced the introduction of the new RBS 70 New Generation (RBS 70 NG). The upgraded version included an improved sighting system capable of night vision and improved training and after-action review features.
Operators
Argentine Marines AustraliaAustralian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
Bahrain
Military of Bahrain
The Military of Bahrain was under Bahrain's Ministry of Defence but now an independent entity and not part of the government and is simply Bahrain Defence Force under a field marshal who is the commander-in-chief...
Bangladesh
Military of Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Armed Forces consists of the three uniformed military services of Bangladesh: the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy and the Bangladesh Air Force. The para-military Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard are under the jurisdiction of the during peacetime, but during...
Brazil
Military of Brazil
The Brazilian Armed Forces is the unified military organization comprising the Brazilian Army , the Brazilian Navy and the Brazilian Air Force....
Czech Republic
Military of the Czech Republic
The Army of the Czech Republic comprise the land forces, the Czech Air Force and support units. From the late 1940s to 1989, the extensive Czechoslovak Armed Forces formed one of the pillars of the Warsaw Pact military alliance...
Finland Germany
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
: adapted the RBS 70 missile as the basis for their ASRAD-R
ASRAD-R
ASRAD-R is a German designed vehicle-mounted short-range surface-to-air missile system, utilizing the Swedish BOLIDE laser-guided SAM missile, and the Ericsson Microwave System HARD 3D radar....
(Advanced Short Range Air Defence System - RBS) mounted on Wiesel 2 Ozelot (LeFlaSys Launcher) Indonesia
Military of Indonesia
The Indonesian National Armed Forces in 2009 comprises approximately 432,129 personnel including the Army , Navy including the Indonesian Marine Corps and the Air Force ....
Iran
Military of Iran
The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran include the IRIA and the IRGC and the Police Force .These forces total about 545,000 active personnel . All branches of armed forces fall under the command of General Headquarters of Armed Forces...
Ireland Latvia Lithuania
Military of Lithuania
The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of ~14,500 active personnel . Conscription was ended in September 2008.Lithuania's defence system is based on the concept of "total and unconditional defence" mandated by Lithuania's national Security Strategy...
Norway Pakistan Singapore
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
, Republic of Singapore Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
: as part of the national integrated air-defence system around its air bases Sweden
Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
Thailand Tunisia
Military of Tunisia
The Tunisian Armed Forces consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.As of 2008, Tunisia had an army of 27,000 personnel equipped with 84 main battle tanks and 48 light tanks. The navy numbered 4,800 operating 25 patrol boats and 6 other craft. The air force had 4,000 personnel, 27 combat aircraft...
United Arab Emirates
Military of the United Arab Emirates
The Union Defence Force is the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates and has primary responsibility for the defense of all seven emirates. It consists of 65,000 personnel, and is headquartered in Abu Dhabi.-History:...
Venezuela
Military of Venezuela
The National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are the overall unified military forces of Venezuela. It includes over 129,150 men and women, under Article 328 of the Constitution, in 5 components of Ground, Sea and Air...
See also
- ASRAD-RASRAD-RASRAD-R is a German designed vehicle-mounted short-range surface-to-air missile system, utilizing the Swedish BOLIDE laser-guided SAM missile, and the Ericsson Microwave System HARD 3D radar....
(Advanced Short Range Air Defence System - RBS) - SA-18 Grouse (Igla) Surface-to-Air Missile
- FIM-92 Stinger Surface-to-Air MissileFIM-92 StingerThe FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
- Mistral Surface-to-Air Missile
- List of missiles
- Starburst surface-to-air missileStarburst surface-to-air missileStarburst is a British man-portable surface-to-air missile produced by Shorts Missile Systems of Belfast . It is used by the British Army, Malaysian Army, and in the Canadian Army as the Javelin...
External links
- Official SAAB company page of RBS 70
- Bofors RBS 70 at the Federation of American ScientistsFederation of American ScientistsThe Federation of American Scientists is a nonpartisan, 501 organization intent on using science and scientific analysis to attempt make the world more secure. FAS was founded in 1945 by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bombs...
(FAS) website - RBS 70 at GlobalSecurity.org
- RBS 70 at Army-Technology.com