RBS 70 NG (new generation) is a very short range air defence (VSHORAD) system produced by Saab. It is an upgraded version of the RBS 70 VSHORAD system operational with 19 countries across the world.
The RBS 70 NG made its public presence during the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition in September 2011. The system offers long-term static air defence for strategic assets and can be deployed for event protection in peacetime.
More than 1,600 RBS 70 systems have been acquired by 19 nations across five continents to date.
Design and features of RBS 70 New Generation VSHORAD
SYSTEM FEATURES
- Automatic target tracking
- Integrated thermal imager
- Visual target assignment
- Simplifed aiming functions
- Simultaneous detection of several targets
- All-target capability (with BOLIDE Missile)
The RBS 70 NG system includes a launch container, a tripod and an NG sight. The nozzle and sustainer motor in the midsection and the laser beam riding system at tail make the missile highly invulnerable against jamming. The complete VSHORAD system is operated by one person and requires three personnel for portability.
The modular design of the NG sight allows the users to integrate the RBS 70 NG system into almost all vehicle types, networks and remotely controlled platforms. The modularity and state-of-the-art technology used in the system transforms RBS 70 NG into a scalable and long term solution to meet the ground based air defence (GBAD) requirements.
The RBS 70 NG system comes with a complete training package, including basic operator training and concerted training for the complete air defence unit. The classroom training simulator offers operator drills to enhance operator skills in the fields of target attainment, recognition, target tracking, missile launch and guidance. It ensures the operators to learn about the engagement processes within a few hours.
RBS 70 NG guidance and navigation
“The integrated sighting system includes a thermal imager, built-in automatic target tracker and advanced visual cueing aids.”
The integrated sighting system includes a thermal imager, built-in automatic target tracker and advanced visual cueing aids. The integrated high-resolution thermal imager allows for 24/7 capability while advanced cueing improves reaction times and target acquisition.
The auto-tracker with manual override ensures the engagement of target with high hit probability all over the missile range, while graphics-based human machine interface and advanced guidance further enhance the performance during manual and auto-tracker engagements. The system is also equipped with in-built video recording capability for post-mission review.
The common sight module of the RBS 70 NG can be integrated into MANPADS, combat vehicles, and remotely controlled systems. The RBS 70 NG’s new-generation sighting system in combination with unjammable laser guidance offers high level of precision strike capability to the users. The system can simultaneously detect multiple targets.
Mobile Short-Range Air Defence (MSHORAD) solution
Saab
The Mobile Short-Range Air Defence (MSHORAD) solution – comprising the Giraffe 1X, C2 and RBS 70 NG Remote Weapon System (RWS) – enables moving units to identify and counter air threats quickly and effectively.
Air threats are continuously evolving to become more high tech than ever before. Modern radar systems must contend with High Energy Laser weapons, Electronic Warfare, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and guided munitions, without letting any target go unnoticed.
This requires an advanced solution that can not only detect any target but also react and strike when time is of the essence. The MSHORAD solution is designed to complement existing defence by filling the gaps in long-range radar coverage created by terrain obstacles. It acts as a protective shield, scanning the battlefield to find and identify a threat, then coordinating the necessary action to remove the target.
As an entire package, MSHORAD provides a solution that increases survivability and supports domain sovereignty in conflict zones. Source saab.com
Giraffe 1X
Saab
Giraffe 1X is a mobile, deployable or fixed asset for short-range surveillance and Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) that provides forces with early warning and the ability to detect and classify more than 100 different targets – simultaneously. Even in high-clutter environments. The system can be delivered with surface surveillance as well as sense & warn add-ons and can be operated remotely or locally.
Giraffe 1X provides simultaneous air surveillance, GBAD target acquisition and RAM sense and warn capabilities without performance degradation. It can detect fixed and rotary wing targets, fast missiles and RAM targets as well as small UAVs in high-clutter environments. It also offers flexible integration of weapon systems and tactical data links, and can be configured fully self-contained with C3 capabilities.
Saab
Giraffe 1X covers the entire search volume every second and will detect any air threat, including small, slow, high and low targets. The system provides exceptional air picture awareness with all-weather performance and accurate 3D data for all targets in the search volume.
Automatic weapon location and impact location can be provided as an option. The system offers 360˚ detection and tracking of RAM threats even in severe clutter. This means it can provide your forces with automatic warning of incoming threats, giving them the time needed to prepare and respond.
VOLUME SEARCH
- 12 stacked beams
- Elevation coverage: 0°- 70°
- Scanning rate 60 rpm
Saab
TECHNICAL DATA
| Radar type | Stacked beam 3D radar |
| Antenna type | AESA, digital beam forming |
| Frequency | X (I) band |
| Elevation coverage | > 70 degrees |
| Rotation rate | 60 RPM |
| Search volume | 360° or in a sector |
| Instrumented range | 75 km |
Source saab.com
C2
- Local air picture coordination and compilation
- NATO interoperability: Tactical Data Link 16 and JREAP-C
- Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system
The C2 command and control communication platform then analyses target data, identifying the threat and creating a local air picture to confirm the required action. C2’s Tactical Data Link transmits the information to RBS 70 NG RWS for interception.
Once data is received, the missiles are engaged in five seconds. RBS 70 NG RWS features visual 3D cueing, an automatic target tracker and a thermal imager for precision aiming and fast target acquisition.
RBS 70 NG Remote Weapon System (RWS)
| Guidance method | Laser beam-riding missile |
| Range | 9 km |
| Altitude coverage | 5 km |
Source saab.com
Missiles of the RBS 70 NG very short range air defence system
The highly modular RBS 70 NG air defence system allows the integration of all existing generations of RBS 70 missiles including the latest BOLIDE fourth-generation all-target VSHORAD missile. The system, when integrated with BOLIDE missile, provides complete air defence against all threats ranging from fixed and rotary wing aircraft to small targets such as cruise missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
The BOLIDE missile has the maximum velocity of Mach 2. Its combined shaped-charge and pre-fragmented warhead can defeat armoured aerial targets including attack helicopters and close air support (CAS) aircraft as well as land-based armoured targets such as armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
“The laser beam-riding missile can engage targets in countermeasures and clutter environments.”
The laser beam-riding missile can engage targets in countermeasures and clutter environments. It has a maximum shelf life of over 30 years.
BOLIDE missile
Unlike competitors such as Raytheon’s FIM-92 Stinger, MBDA’s Mistral, or KBM’s SA-18 Igla, the RBS-70 is an ‘unjammable’ laser beam-riding missile with no seeker head at the front. The RBS-70 is a bit heavy for shoulder firing, and is handled from a tripod. The system can be carried in its component parts by 3 infantry soldiers. Target acquisition includes an IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) phase, but once fired, the missile locks on and vents its propulsion exhaust through the mid-section. This allows the laser beam riding system to fit in the tail, where it is extremely difficult to jam.
Its GlobalSecurity.org entry adds that the RBS-70 Mk 2 uses the Linear Quadratic Method based on the Kalman Theory for missile guidance, whereupon it delivers a 1-2 punch using a shaped charge surrounded by more than 3,000 tungsten pellets.
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 (4.8 miles), an adaptable proximity fuse that gives it full effectiveness against a wider variety of targets, and new reprogrammable electronics. The 4th generation system incorporates the BOLIDE all-target missile, BORC clip-on thermal imager, a digital IFF Interrogator, a PC-based training simulator, and an external power supply for training. These improvements reportedly allow the RBS-70 Bolide to be deployed against surface targets as well, which makes it an especially interesting choice for naval use given the proliferation of small fast attack boat threats.
In a complete air defense system configuration, up to 9 RBS-70 firing tripods can be connected to a surveillance radar like Ericsson’s Giraffe 75, enabling all C3I functions. If the missile firing positions are set 4 km apart, the resulting networked VSHORAD (Very SHOrt Range Air Defense) battery protects an area of 175 square kilometers. A number of radar options are available for the RBS-70, including automatic threat evaluation, autonomous operations, et. al. Source defenseindustrydaily.com
Source weaponsystems.net
RBS 70 NG performance
The RBS 70 NG system can destroy targets within the maximum distance of 8,000m and altitude of 5,000m. It can be integrated with Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator to identify friendly targets. The system is deployed within 30 seconds, while reloading for MANPADS requires less than six seconds.
The system has 24/7 all-target capability, can launch missiles in complex areas such as urban terrains, and can be operated in all weather conditions during day and night.
TECHNICAL DATA
| Guidance method | Laser beam-riding missile |
| Effective range | 220 – >9,000 m |
| Altitude coverage | 0 – 5,000 m |
| Deployment time | 30 sec |
| Reloading time: | Less than 6 sec (MANPADS) |
| Max velocity | (BOLIDE) Mach 2 |
Source saab.com
Main material source army-technology.com
Thai Military and Asian Region 