NLAW (Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon) is a Swedish-British shoulder-launched anti-tank missile system for one-soldier, short-range anti-armor defense. Saab describes it as a 2002 Sweden-UK cooperative design, known as Robot 57 in Sweden and MBT LAW in the UK, with predicted line-of-sight guidance and selectable overfly top-attack or direct-attack modes.
Ukraine received NLAW before and during Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion. UK statements reported 2,000 NLAWs in the initial aid package and 3,615 delivered by 9 March 2022, while RUSI says NLAW was widely distributed to Ukrainian ground-holding units; Luxembourg also announced 100 NLAW for Ukraine on 28 February 2022.
Role detailsNLAW appears under several national and ammunition designations, but these names resolve to the same weapon family rather than separate catalog variants. Saab identifies the Swedish-UK system as Robot 57 in Sweden and MBT LAW in the UK, while UK and ordnance references use K170-series designations for guided-missile rounds.
| Designation | Context | Supported note |
|---|---|---|
| Robot 57 / RB 57 | Swedish service designation | Saab describes Robot 57 as the Swedish designation for the NLAW family. |
| MBT LAW | UK service and programme designation | Saab describes the cooperative weapon as MBT LAW in the UK. |
| K170A1 / K170A2 | UK munition designations | Range-safety and ordnance references identify K170-series NLAW guided-missile rounds. |
NLAW was designed for quick infantry shots rather than a long setup cycle. Saab describes it as a one-soldier weapon that can be fired from confined spaces and used against armored vehicles from short range.
| Feature | Source-backed detail |
|---|---|
| Operator | One soldier can deploy and fire the system. |
| Targeting method | Predicted line of sight guidance tracks a moving target before launch. |
| Attack modes | Selectable overfly top attack or direct attack. |
| Range | 20-800 m combat envelope. |
| Firing positions | Saab says the weapon can be fired from almost any position, including indoors. |
Saab says NLAW was developed in 2002 as a single-soldier, short-range anti-tank weapon system.
Sources: NLAW - Anti-tank weapon
Saab announced Finland as NLAW's first export customer and said delivery to the Finnish Defence Forces would follow in 2009.
Sources: Saab delivers new anti-tank weapon to Finland
Saab said NLAW was used by both Swedish and Finnish forces during Exercise Aurora 17 in Sweden.
Sources: Saab Receives NLAW Order from Finnish Defence Forces
The UK Defence Secretary told Parliament that the UK would supply Ukraine with short-range light anti-armour defensive weapon systems and early-stage training; a later UK statement identified the initial supply as 2,000 NLAWs.
Sources: Statement by the Defence Secretary in the House of Commons, 17 January 2022, Defence Secretary statement to the House of Commons on Ukraine: 9 March 2022
Luxembourg said its army would supply 100 NLAW weapons to the Ukrainian army as part of military assistance after Russia's full-scale invasion.
Sources: Luxembourg military assistance and support measures for Ukraine
The UK announced a £229 million NLAW contract for thousands of systems, said it had already supplied thousands to Ukraine, and described deliveries to UK forces across 2024-2026.
Sources: UK orders thousands more anti-tank weapons to bolster stockpiles, Ukraine: A Crucible for Modern Warfare and the Enduring Relevance of the NLAW
Saab announced that France's DGA signed a contract for NLAW weapons and indoor and outdoor trainers, with deliveries scheduled for 2026-2030.
Sources: Saab receives order for anti-tank weapon NLAW from France
