NATO orders RBS 70 surface-to-air missiles
Seven European countries use RBS 70 and NATO has ordered more. (Image: Saab)
The RBS 70 missile was produced to meet the requirements of the Swedish Army’s short-range air defence needs. The missile was the first weapon of its type to employ laser beam-riding guidance instead of the IR homing guidance system.
NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has ordered RBS 70 surface-to-air missiles from Saab under a contract worth SEK350 million (US$35 million) and deliveries will be expected in 2027.
RBS 70 systems have been in service with more than 19 countries with 1,600 systems and 18,000 missiles delivered to date.
The Bolide missile is the third generation, all-target, short-range air defence missile from Saab.
With the Bolide missile, the RBS 70 system can target a complete threat spectrum: from fixed and rotary wing aircraft, down to small targets such as cruise missiles and UAVs, with a range of more than 9km and an altitude coverage in excess of 5,000m.
In October 2022 the Lithuanian Defence Materiel Agency signed a four-year contract with Saab for additional RBS 70 air defence missiles under a deal which would allow the customer to place orders for RBS 70 missiles until 2026.
An initial purchase under the new contract has been placed worth SEK350 million ($32 million) and deliveries will take place from 2023–24.
In August 2018 Saab received two orders from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence for improved missiles and BORC night-capable sights for the RBS 70 system. The order value amounted to approximately $10.9 million and deliveries began in 2019.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Patria plans for improvements to CAVS 6x6]()
Patria plans for improvements to CAVS 6x6
In January 2020, the Finnish Ministry of Defence and Latvia signed a Technical Arrangement to develop the Patria 6x6 armoured wheeled vehicle chassis platform.
-
![US Army chooses Textron Systems and Griffon Aerospace in final showdown for FTUAS]()
US Army chooses Textron Systems and Griffon Aerospace in final showdown for FTUAS
The US Army plans to procure a Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) to replace the Textron Systems RQ-7Bv2 Shadow tactical UAV currently in service with the US Army's Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). The FTUAS is being developed under the wider Future UAS (FUAS) programme.
-
![British Army’s Challenger 3 undertakes qualification firings in Germany]()
British Army’s Challenger 3 undertakes qualification firings in Germany
The Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank (MBT), which will be delivered to the British Army by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) under an £800 million (US$1 billion) contract, will stay in service beyond 2040.
-
![Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million]()
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
![Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans]()
Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans
The Russia–Ukraine war has continued to be the place the world’s militaries have been watching for lessons on both the EW and uncrewed front. Its conventional war aspect, however, has also been catching the attention of leaders.
