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Sweden Saab AB
RBS 70
A Swedish man-portable, laser beam-riding short-range air-defense missile system fired from a tripod launcher, immune to infrared and radar countermeasures because it does not rely on a homing seeker. Widely exported and continuously upgraded, the latest RBS 70 NG variant adds a thermal sight and improved missiles.
In service since 1977 · 19 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
8
km range
5,000
m altitude
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Swedish export-licensed
ISP licensing; EU/Wassenaar controls.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 19 operators
In service since 1977. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 1.6 Mach |
|---|---|
| Engagement range Maximum distance at which an air-defense system can intercept targets. Higher covers more airspace. | 8 km |
| Engagement altitude Maximum target altitude the system can reach. | 5,000 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | Bolide/Mk2 laser beam-riding missile |
|---|---|
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 1 kg |
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Blast-fragmentation |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Laser beam-riding |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 19 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Saab AB and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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What is the engagement range of the Saab AB RBS 70? +
The Saab AB RBS 70 has a maximum engagement range of 8 km.
What is the main armament of the Saab AB RBS 70? +
The Saab AB RBS 70's primary weapon is the Bolide/Mk2 laser beam-riding missile.
What is the Saab AB RBS 70 used for? +
The Saab AB RBS 70 is a air defense system typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the Saab AB RBS 70? +
The Saab AB RBS 70 is operated by 19 countries.
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