Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon

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Not to be confused with M72 LAW.

NLAW / RB-57
Pansarvärnsrobot 57 aka MTB LAW.jpg
TypePLOS (predicted line of sight) based anti-tank guided missile
Place of originSweden/United Kingdom
Service history
Used bySee § Users
Wars
Production history
DesignerSaab Bofors Dynamics[2]
DesignedJanuary 2001[3]
ManufacturerThales Air Defence[4]
Unit cost
  • US$30,000–33,000[5][6]
  • US$67,700 (including RD cost)[7]
Produced2009[2]
No. built10,000+[7]
Specifications
Mass12.5 kg (28 lb)[8]
Length102 cm (3 ft 4 in)
Crew1[3]
Calibre150 mm (5.9 in) warhead[2]
Muzzle velocity40 m/s (130 ft/s) soft-launch[2]
Effective firing range20–800 m (66–2,625 ft)[8]
Maximum firing range1,000 m (3,300 ft)[citation needed]
FillingHEAT
Blast yield500 mm (20 in) armour penetration[8]

The Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW), also known as the Main Battle Tank and Light Anti-tank Weapon (MBT LAW),[9] and in Sweden known as the Robot 57 (RB-57),[8] is a single-shot, fire-and-forget, shoulder fired disposable missile system. The missile is guided by calculation based on PLOS (predicted line of sight). It has its origins in a joint British–Swedish project begun in 2002 to replace Cold War-era weapons[9] and is designed for use by infantry. The NLAW is used by the armed forces of several nations, including the United Kingdom, Finland, Luxembourg, Ukraine, and Sweden.

Overview[edit]

The NLAW was developed by Saab Bofors Dynamics and Thales Air Defence in collaboration with the British Ministry of Defence in 2002. The development is a joint venture between the UK and Sweden using technology derived from the BILL 2 (warhead and guidance), and AT4 CS (confined space capability) systems. The UK MoD Defence Procurement Agency will procure the systems for both the UK and Sweden, with Sweden having signed a contract for the weapon in December 2005 when it was designated the "RB (Robot) 57".[10]

It has been estimated that the UK requirement may be for up to 20,000 units for the British Armed Forces and each system has a shelf life of around 20 years.[8] In December 2007, Finland placed an order for an undisclosed number of NLAW. An additional, undisclosed, number was ordered in December 2008.[10]

It is a soft-launch system, allowing it to be used by infantry from within an enclosed space. The missile is first launched out of the launcher using a low powered ignition. After the missile travels several metres into flight, its main rocket ignites, propelling the missile from there on to the target. Guidance is obtained using predicted line of sight (PLOS).[10]

For a moving target, the gunner maintains tracking for three seconds, training the missile's guidance electronics to compute the target's angular velocity. After launch the missile flies autonomously to the target making the necessary corrections according to the data acquired by the tracking.[10] It is unnecessary for the gunner to consider the range of the target, except to check that it is within range. The direction of the missile from the launch point is repeatedly adjusted during the flight so that it remains the same as that of the target. This results in the missile eventually hitting any target that has a constant velocity i.e. that does not suddenly speed up, brake, or turn during the flight of the missile.[9]

The portable, short range, fire-and-forget system entered service in 2009 as the "Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon" (NLAW), to replace the British Army's existing LAW 80 system that had in UK's deployment reached obsolescence, as well as the Interim Lightweight Anti-tank Weapon (ILAW), AT4 CS, which was in deployment as a substitute for the period in which the NLAW had yet to be deployed. Deliveries began in December 2009.

Development[edit]

An NLAW

Both launcher and missile development are carried out at Saab Bofors Dynamics facilities at Eskilstuna and Karlskoga in Sweden using the expertise gained on anti-armour systems such as the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle, the AT4 CS confined spaces weapon and the Bill anti-tank missile. Thales Air Defence is the major UK partner and contributor to the programme, leading Team NLAW which includes 14 UK subcontractors for the manufacture of the weapon system and its components.[10][failed verification]

Final assembly and testing is carried out at the Thales Air Defence facilities in Belfast. The missile's inertial measurement unit (IMU) is manufactured by Collins Aerospace in Plymouth. Eaton Ltd, based in South Molton, is responsible for the manufacture of the control fins and actuators. Raytheon Systems Limited based in Glenrothes, and Thales Missile Electronics based in Basingstoke, manufacture electronics assemblies and the system’s proximity fuse.[10][failed verification]

National Plastics Aerospace based in Coventry is responsible for the plastic and composite mouldings. Skeldings, based in Smethwick, manufacture the system's special purpose springs. Express Engineering of Gateshead, Portsmouth Aviation, EPS Logistics Technology, Leafield Engineering of Bristol and Metalweb in Birmingham are also major partners in the NLAW consortium.[10]

Combat history[edit]

Russo-Ukrainian War[edit]

Preceding the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom has supplied 2,000 NLAW systems to Ukraine with an additional 1,615 delivered by 9 March 2022[11][12] to bolster Ukraine's military.[1] Additional NLAWs were requested by the Ukrainian military following reports that they proved highly effective against Russian vehicles, leading to at least 100 additional NLAWs allocated by Luxembourg.[13][14] Alongside FGM-148 Javelins, delivered in anticipation of the increased hostilities, the Ukrainian forces reported that NLAWs produced far greater damage against Russian armoured vehicles than their standard Soviet-era equipment.[15]

Specifications[edit]

A soldier aiming a practice NLAW
  • Weight: 12.5 kg
  • Length: 1.016 m
  • Calibre: 115/150 mm[2][unreliable source?]
  • Muzzle velocity:
    • Initial: 40 m/s
    • Maximum: high subsonic: 200 m/s (Mach 0.7)
  • Range: 20–800 m[8]
  • Guidance: predicted line-of-sight (PLOS) / inertial guidance
  • Sight: Trijicon TA41 NLAW 2.5×20 which has V crosshair (inverted to normal ACOG Ʌ crosshair)
  • Warhead: Combined overfly top attack / direct
  • Cost: approximately £20,000 (2008)[16] or 67,700 USD (including RD cost)[7]
  • Operational temperature: −38 to +63 °C[8]

Users[edit]

A map with NLAW operators in blue
A British soldier with a NLAW
  •  Finland: Finland announced missile orders in 2007 worth €38 million.[4][17] In Finnish service the missile is designated RSLPSTOHJ NLAW.[18]
  •  Indonesia: 600 launchers delivered.[19]
  •  Luxembourg: Ordered in 2010.[20]
  •  Malaysia: Ordered in 2016 for service in the Malaysian Army, deliveries began in 2018.[21]
  •  Saudi Arabia: In service with the Royal Saudi Land Forces.[citation needed]
  •  Sweden: In Swedish service the missile is designated Robot 57 (RB 57).[22][23]
  •   Switzerland: Ordered in 2017 to fill capability gap left by M47 Dragon decommissioning in 2008. Deliveries began in 2018.[24]
  •  Ukraine: 2,000 NLAW units were supplied to Ukraine by the United Kingdom by 19 January 2022 in anticipation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][9] Another 100 were sent from Luxembourg following the invasion.[14]. As of 9th March 2022, the UK confirmed that it had delivered a total of 3,615 NLAW to Ukraine[11].
  •  United Kingdom: Selected in May 2002 for the British Army Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) requirement. The system has replaced the ILAW and LAW 80.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Haynes, Deborah (20 January 2022). "Russia-Ukraine tensions: UK sends 30 elite troops and 2,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine amid fears of Russian invasion". Sky News. London, United Kingdom: Sky Group (Comcast). Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "MBT LAW Light Anti-Tank Weapon". Army Technology. 10 October 2002. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW)". Think Defence. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Saab delivers new anti-tank weapon to Finland" (Press release). Stockholm, Sweeden: Saab AB. 20 December 2007. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Shoulder-launched missiles could make Ukraine war nightmare for all sides". The National. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. ^ Lye, Harry (26 January 2022). "West bolsters Ukrainian arsenal as Russian threat looms". Shephard Media. London, United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "MBT LAW". Deagel. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "NLAW". Stockholm, Sweden: Saab AB. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d Roblin, Sebastien. "The NLAW Missiles The U.K. Rushed To Ukraine May Only Be Useful In Desperate Circumstances". Forbes. Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. ISSN 0015-6914. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Miniaturization of the Infantry Weapons's Components: New Guided Missiles, Programmable Munitions Enhancing The Infantry Precision Fire Effects". Defense Update. Kadima, Israel: Lance & Shield Ltd. December 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  11. ^ a b Allison, George (9 March 2022). "Britain sending anti-aircraft and Javelin missiles to Ukraine". UK Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  12. ^ Beale, Jonathan (9 March 2022). "Ukraine: Are arms shipments from the West making a difference?". BBC News. London, United Kingdom: British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  13. ^ Atherton, Kelsey D. (3 March 2022). "These are the weapons in the Ukrainian arsenal". Popular Science. New York City, NY, U.S. ISSN 0161-7370. OCLC 488612811. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Luxembourg to send anti-tank weapons, jeeps to Ukraine, defence minister says". Reuters. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  15. ^ Ahronheim, Anna (1 March 2022). "The weapons that are turning the Russian hunters into prey-analysis". The Jerusalem Post. Jerusalem, Israel: The Jerusalem Post Group. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  16. ^ Burr, Tim (11 December 2008). Major Projects Report 2008: Project Summary Sheets (PDF). London, United Kingdom: The Stationery Office (published 18 December 2008). National Audit Office. p. 92. ISBN 978-0102954500. Retrieved 2 March 2022 – via The National Archives.
  17. ^ "Puolustusvoimille uusia lähipanssarintorjuntaohjuksia" [New anti-tank missiles for the Defense Forces]. www.mil.fi (in Finnish). Helsinki, Finland: Finnish Defence Forces. 20 December 2007. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Raskas lähipanssarintorjuntaohjus NLAW" [Heavy anti-tank missile NLAW]. www.puolustusvoimat.fi (in Finnish). Helsinki, Finland: Finnish Defense Forces. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  19. ^ Adjie, Haryo (15 August 2019). "Hancurkan Sasaran Eks Panser Saladin, Untuk Pertama Kalinya Saab NLAW TNI AD Diuji Tembak" [Destroy the Target of Saladin's Ex Panzer, for the first time the Indonesian Army's Saab NLAW is being tested]. Indomiliter.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  20. ^ Written at Stockholm, Sweeden. "New Customer Nation for NLAW". ASD News. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: ASD Media BV (published 15 June 2010). Saab AB. 14 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  21. ^ Mahadzir, Dzirhan (26 July 2018). Written at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "Malaysia emerges as NLAW customer". Shephard Media. London, United Kingdom: Shephard Press Limited (The). Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  22. ^ "SEK 500M Order from Sweden for RB 57 NLAW". Defense Industry Daily. Defense Industry Daily, LLC. 27 December 2005. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW)". Defense Update. Kadima, Israel: Lance & Shield Ltd. 31 December 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  24. ^ Chuter, Andrew (28 June 2017). Written at London, United Kingdom. "Saab snags $120M Swiss contract for its next-gen anti-tank weapon". Defense News. Tysons, Virginia, US: Sightline Media Group. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.

External links[edit]

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