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List of operators of the RBS 70

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List of operators of the RBS 70
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This is a list of operators of the RBS 70 (Robotsystem 70), a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS).

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ASRAD-R / ItO 2005 on UNIMOG 5000

Mobile air defence systems

Current systems

ASRAD-R

Finland (16)
The Finnish Armed Forces ordered four batteries of the ASRAD-R system, known locally as the ItO 2005 (Ilmatorjuntaohjus 05).[1]
The order was made in August 2002, deliveries between 2004 and 2008. The contract was valued at €120 million:[1][2]
  • 1 battery based on the Sisu Nasu, with 4 systems by battery.
  • 3 batteries based on the a UNIMOG 5000, with 4 systems by battery.
The Finnish ASRAD-R is composed of:[1]
  • a UNIMOG 5000 platform or a Sisu Nasu
  • a radar from Saab, the HARD (3D, AESA, air search radar)
  • a launcher with 4 RBS 70 BOLIDE missiles ready to fire

Saab MSHORAD

Czech Republic (24)
The Czech Republic ordered 24 Saab MSHORAD system in July 2025, and will be delivered in 2028-2030. The contract is valued at SEK 1.8 billion.[3][4]
Each fire unit is made of 2 vehicles:
  • a MARS S-330 "Mobile Firing Unit", equipped with a launcher with 3 RBS 70NG missiles ready to fire.
  • a MARS S-330 "Mobile Radar Units", equipped with the GBAD C2 (command and control) system and a Saab Giraffe 1X radar.
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    Saab M-SHORAD launcher on the Oshkosh JLTV
Lithuania
Lithuania ordered the Saab MSHORAD system in July 2024, and will be delivered in 2025-2027. The contract is valued at SEK 1.3 billion.[5][6]
Each fire unit is made of 2 vehicles:
  • an Oshkosh JLTV "Mobile Firing Unit", equipped with a launcher with 3 RBS 70NG missiles ready to fire.
  • an Oshkosh JLTV "Mobile Radar Units", equipped with the GBAD C2 (command and control) system and a Saab Giraffe 1X radar.
Lithuania ordered additional Saab MSHORAD systems in October 2024, and will be delivered in 2026-2029. The contract is valued at SEK 1.2 billion.[7]
Each fire unit is made of 2 vehicles:
  • an Oshkosh JLTV "Mobile Firing Unit", equipped with a launcher with 3 RBS 70NG missiles ready to fire.
  • an Oshkosh JLTV "Mobile Radar Units", equipped with the GBAD C2 (command and control) system and a Saab Giraffe 1X radar.
Sweden
Sweden ordered 2 Saab MSHORAD system in January 2024, and will be delivered in 2024-2026. The contract is valued at SEK 300 million.[8][9] Each fire unit is made of 2 vehicles:
  • a Bv 410 "Mobile Firing Unit", equipped with a launcher with 3 RBS 70NG missiles ready to fire.
  • a Bv 410 "Mobile Radar Units", equipped with the GBAD C2 (command and control) system and a Saab Giraffe 1X radar.
Sweden ordered additional Saab MSHORAD systems in 2025, and will be delivered in 2027-2028. The contract is valued at SEK 1.5 billion.[10][11]
Each fire unit is made of 2 vehicles:
  • a Sisu GTP "Mobile Firing Unit", equipped with a launcher with 3 RBS 70NG missiles ready to fire.
  • a Sisu GTP "Mobile Radar Units", equipped with the GBAD C2 (command and control) system and a Saab Giraffe 1X radar.

Tripods on military vehicles

Pakistan
The Pakistan Army operates a RBS 70 base launcher on a pintle mount on two vehicle types:

Potential sales

Thailand
Saab is collaborating with Thailand to supply a SHORAD air defence system as of April 2025.[14]
Singapore
Saab is collaborating with Singapore to supply a SHORAD air defence system as of May 2025.[15]

Retired systems

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Commando V-200 - RBS 70 - Singapore
Iran
The Iranian Armed Forces used a RBS 70 launcher based on a Land Rover Defender during its war against Iraq in the 1980s. It is believed that the system caused most of the aircraft losses of Iraq.[12]
Norway
The Norwegian Army operated the NM195 (Luftvernpanservogn), a M113A2 during the Cold War.[16]
Singapore
The Singapore Armed Forces was operating the RBS 70 launcher on a pintle mount of its Commando V-200.[17][12] All Commando were retired by 2015.
Sweden (48)
The Swedish Army converted Infanterikanonvagn 103 and Infanterikanonvagn 102 into a self-propelled anti-aircraft system known as the Luftvärnsrobotvagn 701 in the 1980s. The system was used a RBS 70 on a pintle mount. The vehicles were in service from 1984 and 2000.[18]
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MANPADS

Current operators

Argentina
Orders and service:
Brazil
Purchases of the RBS 70 by the Brazilian Army:
  • RBS 70 Mk2 missiles, missile launchers, simulators ordered in March 2014, deliveries in 2014. The contract was worth SEK 80 million.[23]
  • RBS 70 Mk2 missiles, missile launchers, simulators ordered in December 2014.[24]
  • RBS 70 ordered in March 2017, delivered in 2017-18. The contract was worth SEK 105 million.[25]
  • RBS 70 ordered in October 2017, delivered in 2018-19. The contract was worth SEK 105 million.[26]
  • RBS 70 NG ordered in January 2019.[27][28]
Canada
Orders of the Canadian Armed Forces:
  • RBS 70 NG ordered in February 2024, deliveries to start in 2024. The contract was worth SEK 1.8 billion (CAD $227.5 million).[29][30][31]
This order aims at protecting the Canadian Army from aircraft and drones in Latvia.[30]
Czech Republic
Orders:
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE ordered in December 2004, delivered in 2005-07. The contract was worth SEK 204 million.[32]
  • RBS 70 NG tested by the Czech Army in November 2015.[33]
  • RBS 70 NG ordered in 2018, delivered in 2020-21. The contract was worth SEK 365 million.[34]
  • RBS 70Mk II ordered in March 2019, deliveries in 2019. The order was placed by the NSPA (NATO Support and Procurement Agency).[35]
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE (135 missiles) ordered in November 2023. The contract was worth CZK 762 million. The order was placed by the NSPA.[36][37]
Finland
The MANPADS variant of the Finnish Defence Forces is known as the ItO 05M (Ilmatorjuntaohjus 05M).
The orders of the launchers and the missiles are:
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE ordered in January 2007, delivered in 2008 and 2010. The contract was worth SEK 600 million.[38]
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE ordered in January 2010, delivered in 2011. The contract was worth SEK 260 million.[39]
  • RBS 70 NG ordered in December 2022, delivered in 2023-26. The contract was worth SEK 800 million (€72 million).[40][41][42]
Indonesia
The Indonesian Armed Forces use the RBS 70 for the SHORAD mission.[43][44]
Iran
Purchase of the Iranian armed forces:
  • RBS 70, around 300 missiles and 50 launchers purchased in the 1980s through Bahrain.[45][46][47]
Ireland
Orders:
  • RBS 70 ordered in 1979, delivered by 1981.[48][49]
  • RBS 70 missiles purchased from Norway in 2017.[50]
  • Modernisation of fire units (RBS 70 BOLIDE capable + BORC night-capability), new simulators and support ordered in June 2014 with deliveries in 2015. The contract was worth SEK 40 million.[51]
  • RBS 70 missiles ordered in June 2015, deliveries in 2015-16. The contract was worth SEK 270 million.[52] Trials took place in September 2017 with the new missiles.[53]
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE / NG ordered in December 2018, delivered in 2019-22. The contract was worth SEK 60 million.[54][55][56]
Latvia
Orders of the Latvian Air Force:
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE ordered in November 2004, delivery in 2006-07. The contract was worth SEK 185 million.[57]
  • RBS 70 donated by Norway in November 2004.[58]
  • RBS 70 (unknown variant) ordered in October 2015, delivered in 2015-16.[59][60]
  • RBS 70 (unknown variant) ordered in September 2016, delivered in 2016-17.[61]
  • RBS 70 NG ordered in December 2022 with air search radars Giraffe 1X, deliveries started in 2022.[62][63][64]
  • RBS 70 NG, framework agreement signed with Saab in March 2025 for deliveries in 2026-30. The contract was worth SEK 2.1 billion.[65]
Lithuania
The Lithuanian Armed Forces are using the MANPADS variant of the RBS 70.[66]
The purchases are:
  • RBS 70 Mk1, 21 launchers, 260 missiles, 3 simulators purchased second hand from Norway in 2004.[67]
  • RBS 70 simulators ordered in December 2016, delivered in 2018.[68]
  • RBS 70 NG, modernisation of missiles and launchers with the BORC night-capability sights ordered in August 2018, delivered in 2019. The contract was worth SEK 100 million.[69]
  • RBS 70 NG framework agreement signed in October 2022, enabling deliveries until 2026. Firm orders:
  • October 2022, deliveries 2023-24. The contract was worth SEK 350 million (USD $31.4 million).[70]
Note: orders of mobile systems have taken place with the Saab MSHORAD.[66]
Pakistan
Orders:
  • RBS 70 ordered in the 1980s, assembled locally from 1988. The contract was worth USD $91 million.[71]
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE supplied yearly to Pakistan.[72][73]
Singapore
The Singapore Armed Forces was an early customer of the RBS 70.[74][75]
Orders from Singapore:
  • RBS 70 ordered by Singapore in the late 1970s, and entered service in the early 1980s. It was locally assembled by Bofors.[76][77]
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE, modernisation ordered in 1971, and in service in 2011.[78][79]
  • RBS 70 NG ordered in 2018, unveiled in 2020 in service with the RSAF.[80][81][82][83]
Sweden
All variants have been used by the Swedish Army. Details of the orders remained confidential.[84]
Thailand
A variant of the RBS 70 is operated by the Royal Thai Armed Forces.[85][12]
Tunisia
The RBS 70 is operated by the Tunisian Armed Forces.[85][12]
Orders:
  • RBS 70 ordered at the Paris Air Show in 1979, delivered by 1981.[86] The contract was worth USD $30 million, for 60 launchers and 300 missiles.[87][88]
Ukraine
Missiles and missile launchers supplied to Ukraine since it has been invaded by Russia in 2022:
  • Sweden: Total of 100 launchers and more than 500 missiles supplied and promised as of July 2025.[89]
    • November 2022, Sweden decided to supply the RBS 70 to Ukraine.[90] At the end of 2022, Sweden started to train Ukrainian soldiers on the RBS 70 system.[91] These entered service in Ukraine in early 2023 at the same time as the Giraffe 75 radars.[92][93]
    • February 2025, additional RBS 70 systems for Ukraine.[94]
  • Australia:
    • Aid to Ukraine with missiles that had been purchased since 1987 in multiple versions as they were retired in 2023 in the Australian Armed Forces.[95][96][97] The transfer took place in 2024, it includes RBS 70 NG missiles and launchers valued at USD $50 million.[98]
NATO
NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) orders:
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE missiles ordered in January 2016, deliveries in 2016-17. The contract was worth SEK 106 million (USD $12 million).[99]
  • RBS 70Mk II missiles ordered in March 2019, deliveries in 2019. The order was placed for the Czech Army.[35]
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE missiles ordered in December 2023, deliveries in 2027. The contract was worth SEK 350 million.[37][100][101]

Illegal operators

Bahrain and United Arab Emirates
At the end of the 1970s and the early 1980s, the UAE purchased the first generation of the RBS-70 from Bofors AB in Singapore. Bofors AB was not authorised to export those missiles to Bahrain and the UAE.[88][102][103][104]
A total of 300 missiles were exported to both countries.[105]

Unclear operators

Mexico
Some information suggest that Mexico may have received 100 missiles in 1993.[106]
Venezuela
Orders of the Venezuelan Army:[107][106]
  • 1989, order for around 200 RBS 70 Mk1.[108][109]
  • February 1999, order worth SEK 375 million (USD $54 million), around 200 RBS 70 BOLIDE.[110][111]

Former operators and systems retired

Australia
Australia has been operating several versions of the RBS-70 from 1987 until 2023. In 2023, it was donated to Ukraine.[95][96][97]
Orders and upgrades of the RBS 70 when it was in service in Australia:
  • RBS 70 ordered in 1985, in service since 1987
  • RBS 70 system ordered in May 2003, delivered by 2005 to replace the Rapier. The contract was worth SEK 450 million.[112][113][114]
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE ordered in June 2003, delivered by 2007. The contract was worth SEK 150 million.[112]
  • RBS 70 simulator ordered in August 2003.[113]
  • RBS 70 BOLIDE ordered in April 2004.[115][116]
  • Upgrade contract in 2016 to the pairing RBS 70 and Giraffe AMB with an IFF Mode 5. The contract was worth USD 54 million.[117]
Norway
Formerly operated by the Norwegian Army, retired in 2004 and donated to Lithuania.[118][119]
Orders and upgrades of the RBS 70 when it was in service in Norway, according to SIPRI:
  • RBS 70, 110 launchers, 550 missiles ordered in 1978, delivered between 1981 and 1984. The contract was worth SEK 400 million.[120]
  • RBS 70, around 1,000 missiles ordered in 1985, delivered between 1987 and 1990. The contract was worth SEK 700 million.[121]
  • RBS 70, around 250 missiles ordered in 1987, delivered between 1989 and 1990.[122]
  • RBS 70 Mk2, around 1,000 missiles ordered in 1988, delivered between 1990 and 1992. The contract was worth SEK 500 million.[123]
  • RBS 70 Mk2, around 2,000 missiles ordered in 1989, delivered between 1991 and 1994. The contract was worth USD 124 million.[124] Part of the production took place at the Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk.
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References

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