RBS 56 BILL
The RBS 56 BILL[2] is a Swedish manportable SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile developed by AB Bofors. Development began in 1979 and entered production in 1985. BILL stands for (Bofors, Infantry, Light and Lethal). By 1996 15,000 missiles had been produced and supplied to the Swedish and Austrian armies. Between 1996 and 1997 Brazil received a number of missiles. In the late 1990s production shifted to the RBS 56B BILL 2. The Swedish army received the first deliveries of the BILL 2 in 1999.
| RBS 56 BILL | |
|---|---|
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| Type | SACLOS Anti-tank missile |
| Place of origin | Sweden |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1985 – present |
| Used by | Sweden, Austria, Latvia, Brazil |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Bofors |
| Unit cost | $80,000 (1989)[1] |
| Produced | 1985 – late 1990s |
| No. built | 15,000 + |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 36 kg (launcher) |
| Length | 900 mm |
| Diameter | 150 mm |
| Muzzle velocity | 250 m/s |
| Effective firing range | 150 to 2,200 m |
Guidance system | SACLOS |
Description
A man portable BILL system consists of a missile in a sealed launch tube, tripod, day sight and thermal night-vision sight. The missile's shaped charge warhead is aimed downwards at an angle of 30 degrees and is triggered by a proximity fuze as the missile passes over the intended target.
The top attack warhead allows the missile to strike the thinner top armour of tanks. To enable this to work effectively the missile flies 0.75 meters above the line of sight between the launcher and the target. A secondary effect of this is to enable the missile to be used to engage targets largely behind cover, for example a hull down tank.
When launched the missile is propelled from the launch tube at around 72 meters per second by a gas generator at the rear of the launch tube. Once the missile is clear of the launch tube the sustainer motor engages and accelerates the missile to a speed of 250 meters per second. Once the missile is about 400 meters from the launcher, the sustainer motor cuts out and the missile continues in free flight.
Operators
References
- http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php
- http://www.military-today.com/missiles/bill.htm
- "Future Artillery Systems: 2016 Market Report" (PDF). Tidworth: Defence IQ. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005-2006.