Robotsystem 70 Vehicle Launched Missile

RycotSS · June 13, 2023

Robotsystem 70 Vehicle Launched Missile

Summary

The Robotsystem 70 Vehicle Launched Missile, or RBS 70 VLM for short, was an attempt by Bofors to sell a self-propelled version of their RBS 70 MANPADS. This was done by attaching an RBS 70 launcher with some missiles on the back of a 1985 model Land Rover 110 Pickup. It would gameplay-wise probably be the closest to the Type 93 out of the vehicles currently in the game, although it would have no FCS of any kind and thus rely entirely on mouse guidance to hit targets.

History

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On the 25th of August 1987, Bofors purchased a 1985 model Land Rover 110 Pickup from the British Ministry of Defence which then was approved for Swedish roads and given the licence plate NDF574. Before the exhibition, they then took this Land Rover and bolted a piece of metal to cover over the flatbed, and then bolted an RBS 70 launcher together with two metal plates on top of that piece of metal. This vehicle was then designated as the Robotsystem 70 Vehicle Launched Missile or RBS 70 VLM for short.

In 1992, the biggest demonstration of defence systems in the history of Sweden took place with the Bofors Demo 92 exhibition. This demonstration had visitors from 33 different countries and took place in under three days. On the 15th of September 1992, on the first day of the demonstrations, Bofors displayed the different anti-air systems which they had developed in an attempt to attract further customers. The systems they displayed were the RBS 90, CV90 Chameleon, and the RBS 70 VLM. After driving to the firing position, the RBS 70 VLM successfully shot down an 8 m long towed sleeve target, travelling at a speed of 90 m/s at a distance of 2800 m and a height of 2200 m.

RBS 70 VLM moving to the firing position on the 15th of September 1992 with a canvas cover covering up the launcher.

Features

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Hull

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The hull of the RBS 70 VLM is a 1985 model Land-Rover 110 Pickup which is powered by a 2,25-litre petrol engine providing it with 75 horsepower, which can pull the vehicle to a top speed of 113 km/h. The hull has no protection whatsoever against any small arms fire or fragmentation due to this being a light civilian pickup truck. It is a regular civilian pickup truck, except the flatbed at the back has an RBS 70 launcher and two racks for extra missiles bolted on top of the flatbed.

Regular 1985 model Land Rover 110 Pickup.

Armaments

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The RBS 70 VLM is armed with an RBS 70 launcher which fires the Robot 70 series of laser beam-riding missiles. This is the same armament that currently exists on the Lvrbv 701 already in the game, however, the RBS 70 mk 2 missiles which the Lvrbv 701 uses would be unavailable due to the time differences as the MK 2 was designed after the RBS 70 VLM stopped existing as a vehicle. The RBS70 mk 0 / 1 missiles would, however, be available, with the sole difference that the MK 1 goes slightly faster (550 m/s compared to 525 m/s) and can be guided when further off to the side of the aiming point compared to the MK 0. It is however theoretically possible for the vehicle to use both the RBS 70 mk 2 and BOLIDE missiles, it is just that the vehicle never existed at the same time as these two missiles.

Regular RBS 70 firing unit.

RBS 70 missile.

In War Thunder

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In War Thunder the RBS 70 VLM would act sort of like a Swedish Type 93, but without any kind of FCS, and with RBS 70 missiles instead of stingers. It would also be a quite hard vehicle to use as whilst the missiles are mouse guided, you have no way to lock onto any kind of aircraft, and would rely on skill to accurately track and hit fast-moving targets. As such, this vehicle would probably be best suited for shooting down early ATGM helicopters sitting far back outside SPAAG range whilst not manoeuvring much. Another thing that would raise the skill ceiling of this vehicle further is the ammo count. In the one video, which as far as I know, is the only proof of this vehicle ever existing, only a total ammo count of 3 missiles would exist in-game (1 one in the launcher and 2 in separate racks on the flatbed). From the video however, it can be seen that the regular flatbed seems to have been covered over with a piece of sheet metal which the launcher and ammo are in turn bolted onto, with the flatbed theoretically still existing underneath it. Due to this, it could for gameplay reasons be assumed that the flatbed underneath is also holding additional missiles, and from the rough size of it, a rough guesstimate would be that an additional 3 or 4 missiles could be stored in it which would bring the total ammo count from 3 to 6 or 7 missiles.

The gunner standing on the metal plate bolted on top of the flatbed (The red line). The hatch to get into the trunk of the Land Rover 110 Pickup is also still left untouched (The red box) which suggests that it can be opened up to store extra equipment, and potentially missiles, in the flatbed underneath the launcher.

Regular 1985 model Land Rover 110 Pickup flatbed as a comparison.

Specifications

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General:

Crew: 2
- Driver
- Gunner
Weight: 2345 kg
Height: 2,035 m
Width: 1,79 m
Length: 4,6 m
Wheelbase: 2,8 m
Protection: None

Mobility:

Top speed: 113 km/h
Approach angle: 50°
Departure angle: 35°
Ground clearance: 215 mm
Turning circle: 13,28 m
Four-wheel drive
Engine: 2.25L 11H
- 75 hp
- 55 kW
- 160 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Transmission: LT77
- Manual
- 5 forward gears
- 1 reverse gear

Armaments:

Robotsystem 70:
- Ammo:
  - RBS 70 MK 0:
    - General data:
      - Length: 1320 mm
      - Diametre 105 mm
      - Weight: 15 kg
    - Propulsion:
      - Range: 5 km
      - Altitude coverage: 3 km
      - Top speed: 525 m/s
      - Missile guidance time: 15 s
      - Manoeuvrability: 15 G
    - Guidance: Radar beam-riding
    - Warhead:
      - Proximity fuze
      - Backup contact fuze
  - RBS 70 MK 1:
    - General data:
      - Length: 1320 mm
      - Diametre: 105 mm
      - Weight: 16,5 kg
    - Propulsion:
      - Range: 5 km
      - Altitude coverage: 3 km
      - Top speed: 550 m/s
      - Missile guidance time: 15 s
      - Manoeuvrability: 15 G
    - Guidance: Radar beam-riding
    - Warhead:
      - Proximity fuze
      - Backup contact fuze
- Ammo count: 3 *
- Horizontal traverse: 360°
  - Horizontal targeting speed: Unlimited (Dependant on the operators ability to turn the launcher since the horizontal traverse is done by the operator manually turning it)
- Vertical traverse:
  - Elevation: 35°
  - Depression: -5°
  - Vertical targeting speed: Unlimited (Dependant on the operators ability to angle the launcher since the vertical traverse is done by the operator manually angling it)