RBS 70

RBS 70 (Robotsystem 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.[2]

RBS 70
Latvian RBS 70
TypeShort-range Air Defense (SHORAD)
Man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS)
Place of originSweden
Service history
In service1977–present
Wars
Production history
ManufacturerBofors Defence (1980s–2000)
Saab Bofors Dynamics (since 2000)
Unit cost3.3 million EUR in 2023 [1]
Specifications
Mass87 kg (stand + sight + missile)
Length1.32 m
Diameter106 mm
Wingspan32 cm
Warhead1.1 kg combined with 3,000 tungsten spheres and shaped charge
Detonation
mechanism
Adaptive proximity fuze function with 3 selectable modes (Off, Normal, Small target)
EngineBooster and sustainer with smokeless solid propellant
Operational
range
250 m – 9 km
Flight altitude5,000 m
Maximum speed Mach 1.6 (Mark 0/1)
Mach 2 (5 km in 12 seconds) (Mark 2/BOLIDE)
Guidance
system
Laser beam riding missile
Launch
platform
tripod, weapon platform (ASRAD-R) and warship

History
First-generation RBS 70 missile.

Before RBS 70 the mainstay of Swedish short range air defence was Robotsystem 69 (American Redeye ) and the Swedish Bofors m/48 AAA. Development of the Rbs 70 to supply the Swedish air defence with a low-cost, easy-to-use and effective short-range SAM system began in 1969 when Bofors AB was contracted, who decided to use a novel guidance system in the form of a laser-beam riding missile co-developed with Laser Diode Laboratories. Further studies showed the need of a radar and an Identification friend or foe-system which were ordered from LM Ericsson and Svenska Aktiebolaget Trådlös Telegrafi (SATT) respectively in 1972.[3] This became the first missile system to fully use computer simulated firing, with some 10 000 shots taken during development.[4] In 1975, the finished system went into series production, and RBS 70 was taken into service in 1977. In 1982, the missile was improved to MK I, while the MK II came in 1990. The fourth generation, the Mach 2 "BOLIDE" all target missile appeared in 2003 along with improvements of the IFF-system and the ability to add a BORC thermal imager. The auto-tracking RBS 70 Next Generation with an integrated thermal imager came in 2011, now with a range of 9000 metres and 5000 metre height coverage.[5]

As a side development, the vehicle-mounted all-weather Robotsystem 90[6] was in service from 1993 to 2004,[7] then mothballed until it was reactivated in 2017.

Design
RBS 70 and operators in Australian service, 2021

The RBS 70 is a Short-range Air Defense (SHORAD) laser guided missile system.

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 20 customer countries, on all continents and in arctic, desert, and tropical environments.

In 2003 the "BOLIDE" upgrade system was introduced to the RBS 70.[8] 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 (5.0 mi) and can reach an altitude of 6 km. Deliveries were initiated in 2005.

Latest upgrade

In 2011, Saab Bofors Dynamics (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 automatic target tracking capable of night vision and improved training and after-action review features.[9]

Operational use

In 1990, the Royal Australian Navy embarked two RBS 70 units and Australian Army operators on board the fleet replenishment ship HMAS Success when it deployed to the Persian Gulf in the lead-up to the first Gulf War in Kuwait.

In 1992, a Venezuelan Army RBS 70 SAM is attributed with having shot down a rebel OV-10 Bronco during the 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt on November 27.[10]

Iran used the RBS 70 system during the Iran–Iraq War against Iraqi aircraft.[11]

The Australian government has announced the Short Range Ground Based Air Defence in 2017. The plan is to find a replacement for the RBS-70. As of 2019 the NASAMS is the chosen option. Defence Department has signed a contract with Raytheon Australia. Planned replacement of the RBS-70 is financial year 2022–23.[12]

RBS 70 was supplied to Ukraine by Sweden at the beginning of 2023 during the Russian invasion. Sweden also provided Ukraine with the Giraffe 75 short range radar for use with the RBS 70. The Ukrainian military claims to have used RBS 70 to shoot down Russian cruise missiles and Iranian-made loitering munitions.[13][14]

On 17 August 2023, near Robotyne members of the 47th Brigade used a RBS 70 to shoot down a Russian Ka-52, reportedly killing one of the two crew.[15]

Operators

Current operators

Former operators

See also

References
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  4. Lindqvist, Gunnar; Widfeldt, Bo (2003). Rikets flygplanköp — JAS 39 Gripen [The Kingdom's aircraft purchases: JAS 39 Gripen] (in Swedish). Nässjö, Sweden: Air Historic Research. ISBN 91-973892-5-0.
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  10. Chronological Listing of Venezuelan Losses & Ejections, Project Get Out and Walk
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  15. Axe, David (17 Aug 2023). "Ukraine's Helicopter-Killing RBS-70 Missiles Can See Right Through Russian Jamming". Forbes. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 Sep 2023.
  16. "The World Defence Almanac", World Defence Almanac: The Balance of Military Power: 38, 1996–97, ISSN 0722-3226.
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  21. ArmadniNoviny.cz. "Protiletadlové komplety RBS 70 NG pro Armádu České republiky". Armádní noviny (in Czech). Archived from the original on 2022-10-10. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
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  31. "Lithuanian Airspace to be Safeguarded by Air Defence Armaments Donated by Norway". Archived from the original on 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
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