RBS 70


RBS 70 is a man-portable air-defense system 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. It uses the RB 70 missile which is also in use in a number of other Swedish missile 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 MIM-23 Hawk systems, American Redeye and the Swedish Bofors m/48 AAA.
The Swedish Army has decided to replace the RBS 70 with a ground-launched version of the IRIS-T missile.

Design

The RBS 70 is a Short-range Air Defense 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 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, with a range up to and can reach an altitude of 6 km. Deliveries were initiated in 2005.

Latest upgrade

In 2011, Saab Bofors Dynamics announced the introduction of the new RBS 70 New Generation. The upgraded version included an improved sighting system capable of night vision and improved training and after-action review features.

Operational use

In 1990, the Royal Australian Navy embarked two RBS-70 units and Australian Army operators onboard 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.
Iran used the RBS-70 system during the Iran–Iraq War against Iraqi aircraft.

Operators

Current operators