Thursday, March 18, 2010

MBT LAW

IOC: 2005
Total Program's Cost: USD$677 million

Also Known As
NLAW
RB57
Robot 57

Origin
Sweden

Contractor/s
Saab *
Thales

Derived from:
AT4 CS

Description: The MBT LAW - also known as the NLAW - is a man-portable, fire and forget, disposable weapon consisting of an anti-tank missile sealed within a launch tube. The MBT LAW has been designed to counter main battle tanks at short ranges as well as buildings, fortifications and non-armored vehicles. This weapon system is based on proven technologies from the Bill 2 anti-tank missile and AT4 CS lightweight anti-tank weapon. Like the AT4 CS, the MBT LAW weapon can be handled by a single soldier and launched from confined spaces making it highly suitable for urban warfare.

The MBT LAW features a single shaped charge detonated by magnetic and optical sensors striking downward at 90-degree. The weapon only weighs less than 12 kg and is absolutely free of maintenance. The weapon operator must track the target during 2-3 seconds before the launch. During that time the guidance control system of the MBT LAW calculates the foreseeable position of the target. The weapon can be launched at 45-degree upward/downward. Once launched, the projectile follows top-attack or direct attack profile according to pre-launch settings.

The direct attack profile is characterized by impact fuze activated, sensors off, and flight path on the line of sight. The top-attack profile means proximity fuze activated, sensors on, and elevated flight path to the target. Main battle tanks with heavy armor require a top-attack profile, while the direct attack profile is enough for other types of targets.

In May 2002, the UK Ministry of Defense selected the MBT LAW to carry out the NLAW project. The MBT LAW will be produced mainly in the United Kingdom, while export sales are anticipated between 80,000 and 100,000 weapons. The MBT LAW will achieve operational capability in the British Army by 2005.

In late December 2005 the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration placed a SEK 500 million order for NLAW anti-weapon systems for use by the Swedish Armed Forces. Robot 57 was chosen as the designation for NLAW/MBT LAW weapon system within the Swedish Armed Forces.

Specifications
Weights: Max Weight 11.6 kg (25.6 lb)

Performance: Max Range 600 m (1,969 ft), Min Range 20 m (66 ft), Top Speed 200 mps (Mach 0.60)

MBT LAW - Contracts, Orders & Sales
Thursday, December 20, 2007 Finland procurement contract valued at 38 million Euro for the NLAW anti-tank weapon system from Saab Bofors Dynamics and Thales Air Defence. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2009. The NLAW order was announced on December 20, 2007.

News
Finland Places an Additional Order for NLAW Anti-Tank Weapons

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Saab in Industrial Cooperation

Saab Receives Order for RB57 Virtual Training System for the Swedish Armed Forces

Finland Orders NLAW Anti-Tank Weapon System

Sweden Orders NLAW Anti-Tank Weapon

Operators

see operators map

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Sunday, March 07, 2010

Leave Feedback >>