Swedish conglomerate Saab announced on Tuesday that it has received an order for additional RBS 70 NG short-range Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) units from Argentina’s armed forces.
The RBS 70 NG is the latest iteration of the company’s short-range ground-based air defense system.
“The Argentine Navy has been a user of the RBS 70 since 1984 and is now upgrading to the latest RBS 70 NG. The contract entails a further expansion of the country’s usage of the RBS 70 NG system to the Air Force and to the Army,” the company said in a statement.
Argentina is the fifth nation to order the upgraded platform after Brazil, the Czech Republic, Singapore, and Sweden.
As part of the contract, the company will deliver the RBS 70 NG weapon, training simulators, and missiles to the South American country.
However, Argentina has not yet provided contract details, such as cost, the number of launchers, or the number of missiles it will purchase.
In November last year, the country increased its defense spending by $220 million. Among other defense procurements, the additional budget included its first payment of $2 million for the system.
About the RBS 70 NG
A basic RBS 70 weapon system includes the missile in a launch container, a tripod firing stand, and an optical sight. The standard model is operated by one person, while the portable version is operated by three.
The latest model features an improved TI night sight, enabling target engagement throughout the day without the need for the legacy 24kg clip-on night device.
Improved Features
According to Saab, the RBS 70 NG is reliable, accurate, and can be operated under demanding combat conditions with round-the-clock multi-target capability. The weapon has been designed for flexibility and modularity, can be integrated with vehicles, and has networked and remote-control compatibility.
The weapon system has an effective range of up to 9 kilometers (5.59 miles) at altitudes up to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles). With a deployment time of just over 30 seconds, it can be reloaded in less than 5 seconds, giving it an edge during combat missions.
It includes laser guidance and auto-tracking technology.
The weapon system has an impressive sales record with more than 1,600 launchers and over 17,000 missiles delivered to 19 countries.
