Sweden Orders NLAW Anti-Tank Weapon

Released on Thursday, December 22, 2005

Following joint development between the United Kingdom and Sweden, FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) placed a purchase order worth SEK 500 million ($75 million) with Saab Bofors Dynamics for the NLAW system. The Swedish military designation is "Robot 57".

In the summer of 2002 the British equivalent of FMV, the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), ordered development of NLAW for the United Kingdom and Sweden plus series production and delivery for the British Armed Forces. The order was worth approximately SEK 4,000 million ($602 million) and was won in hard international competition with the British missile industry teamed with one of the largest American defence industry companies. Today's order is for series production and delivery for the Swedish Armed Forces.

NLAW was developed in Sweden and will be produced in the United Kingdom. A number of subcontractors, primarily British, are involved in production. Final assembly will take place at Thales Air Defence in Belfast.

NLAW is a light, short-range, antitank missile for engaging main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. The system meets the requirements for a modern antitank weapon system in international operations within an urban environment.