RBS 70 is a Swedish short-range air-defense system built around a tripod launcher, optical or thermal sight, and laser beam-riding missiles. Saab's RBS 70 NG sight keeps the man-portable role while adding auto-tracking, thermal imaging, vehicle-integration, and networked or remote-control compatibility. Ukraine has fielded RBS 70 systems during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through Swedish and Australian support, including donated or procured launchers and training for Ukrainian personnel.
Ukrainian forces fielded RBS 70 / Robot 70 short-range air-defense systems after Swedish donations and training, later reinforced by Swedish procurement plans and Australian delivery of more than a dozen RBS-70 launchers with training for Ukrainian troops.
Role detailsRBS 70 is not just the missile round. The basic system combines a launch container, tripod firing stand, and sighting unit, while RBS 70 NG adds a modern sight with thermal imaging and auto-tracking. Saab states that the NG sight can serve both man-portable and remote weapon station roles, can integrate with vehicles, and can operate in networked or remote-control configurations.
The launch station guides the missile with a laser beam-riding method rather than a seeker homing independently on the target.
Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab; Robot System 70.
The RBS 70 NG sight introduced integrated thermal imaging, auto-tracking, improved aiming aids, and built-in video recording for after-action review.
Source: RBS 70 NG | Saab.
The conflict row covers documented RBS 70 systems and launchers in Ukrainian service; it does not infer the exact missile variant for every donated or fired round.
Sources: Diggers deliver missile training for Ukraine; Sweden donates air defence systems to Ukraine worth SEK 1.2 billion.
The RBS 70 family spans the original man-portable system, improved missile generations, the RBS 70 NG sight, and vehicle-integrated short-range air-defense configurations.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| RBS 70 Mk 2 | Improved missile/sight generation | Saab's development line places the Mk 2 missile, Clip-On Night Device, and battlefield-management terminal in the 1990 step of the family. Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab |
 | Bolide missile generation | Saab describes Bolide as the fourth-generation all-target missile announced for the family in 2003; the separate Bolide page covers it as a munition component. Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab, RBS 70 NG Datasheet |
| RBS 70 NG | Next-generation sight and launcher architecture | Saab says RBS 70 NG launched in 2011 with auto-tracking and integrated thermal imaging, while retaining compatibility with RBS 70 missile generations up to Bolide. Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab, RBS 70 NG Datasheet |
| RBS 70 NG with Bolide 2 | Follow-on missile integration | Saab launched Bolide 2 in 2026 and said the missile can be fired from RBS 70 NG and prior generations, with customer deliveries starting in 2027. Sources: Saab strengthens RBS 70 NG with new Bolide 2 missile |
RBS 70 is the launch and sighting system; the missile generation determines part of the range, target set, and warhead package.
| Ammunition | Ammunition type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Laser beam-riding missile | Saab's RBS 70 NG material identifies Bolide as the family missile generation used with RBS 70 NG and earlier RBS 70 architecture. Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab, RBS 70 NG Datasheet |
Saab says development of RBS 70 began in 1969, leading to a Swedish short-range air-defense family built around laser beam-riding guidance.
Sources: The story behind RBS 70
Saab's product history lists the original RBS 70 launch in 1977 with a 5 km intercept range, more than 2,000 m altitude coverage, and laser beam-riding guidance.
Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab
Saab places the Mk 2 missile, Clip-On Night Device, and battlefield-management terminal in the 1990 step of the RBS 70 family.
Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab
Saab identifies 2003 as the point when the fourth-generation Bolide all-target missile was announced for RBS 70.
Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab
Saab says RBS 70 NG introduced auto-tracking and an integrated thermal imager, with the datasheet describing compatibility with RBS 70 missiles through Bolide.
Sources: RBS 70 NG | Saab, RBS 70 NG Datasheet
At a joint press conference in Lviv, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Australia would provide Ukraine with a large batch of RBS-70 man-portable air-defense systems worth dozens of millions of dollars.
Sources: Joint press conference, Lviv, Ukraine
The Swedish government listed Robot 70 anti-aircraft systems among equipment to be donated to Ukraine in what it described as its largest military support package to Ukraine to that date.
Sources: Government presents largest military support package to Ukraine to date
The Swedish government said FMV would be authorised to procure RBS 70 and Tridon Mk2 air-defense systems for donation to Ukraine as part of its 18th military support package.
Sources: Sweden donates air defence systems to Ukraine worth SEK 1.2 billion
Australia's Defence Department said personnel deployed to Poland to deliver more than a dozen RBS-70 launchers and train Ukrainian troops after the system was retired from 16th Regiment service.
Sources: Diggers deliver missile training for Ukraine
Saab launched Bolide 2 for the RBS 70 short-range air-defense system and said deliveries of the new missile generation would start in 2027.
Sources: Saab strengthens RBS 70 NG with new Bolide 2 missile
