Saab to supply RBS 70 NG air defense systems to Latvia to improve detection and engagement of modern threats.

On 31 March 2025, Saab signed a framework agreement with the Latvian Ministry of Defense for the delivery of the RBS 70 NG short-range ground-based air defense system. Within this agreement, an initial order valued at SEK 2.1 billion (approximately €194.221.461) was placed. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2030. The order covers RBS 70 NG firing units, missiles, and trainer systems. Saab stated that this procurement aims to support the Latvian National Armed Forces in enhancing their ability to detect and engage aerial threats.
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The RBS 70 NG, launched in 2011, uses laser beam-riding guidance, which is resistant to jamming, automatic target tracking, a built-in high-resolution thermal imager for day and night operations, and a fully integrated sighting system. (Picture source: Saab)

The RBS 70 NG, launched in 2011, is the latest generation of the Swedish RBS 70 system. It is a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) designed for short-range air defense (SHORAD) operations. It uses laser beam-riding guidance, which is resistant to jamming. The system features automatic target tracking, a built-in high-resolution thermal imager for day and night operations, and a fully integrated sighting system. The missile system has a maximum effective range of over 9,000 meters and an altitude coverage of up to 5,000 meters. Deployment time is 45 seconds, and reloading takes less than 5 seconds. The BOLIDE missile, introduced in 2003, reaches speeds of Mach 2 and can cover 5 kilometers in 12 seconds. It is equipped with a 1.1 kg warhead containing 3,000 tungsten spheres and a shaped charge, with a proximity fuze offering three selectable detonation modes.

The RBS 70 system has been in service since 1977. Initially developed by Bofors defense (now Saab Bofors Dynamics), it has undergone multiple upgrades: in 1982 with improved hardware, in 1990 with the Mk2 missile and Clip-On Night Device (COND), and in 2003 with the introduction of the BOLIDE missile, BORC thermal imager, and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capability. The RBS 70 NG introduced in 2011 added automatic tracking, integrated thermal imaging, improved cueing, enhanced aiming aids, and built-in video recording for after-action review. The system’s sighting unit is used in both man-portable and remote weapon station (RWS) configurations and is designed for modularity and network integration.

Latvia joins a number of countries that have adopted the RBS 70 or RBS 70 NG. Operators include Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Lithuania, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Ukraine. Canada is expected to introduce RBS 70 NG into service in Latvia in 2024. Australia, which has used the system since the 1990s, announced in April 2024 a defense aid package to Ukraine valued at AUD 100 million, of which "dozens of million dollars" are allocated to RBS 70 systems. Australia is transitioning to NASAMS and phasing out RBS 70. It is not specified whether Saab's Giraffe radar is included in the Australian aid.

Ukraine received RBS 70 systems from Sweden in early 2023 during the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Armed Forces report use of the system to intercept cruise missiles, Iranian-made loitering munitions, drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft. Specific incidents include the downing of a Russian Ka-52 near Robotyne on 17 August 2023, a Su-24 over Odesa on 5 December 2023, a Mi-8 helicopter in Luhansk on 25 October 2023, another Su-24 on 6 December 2023, a SuperCam drone on 24 December 2023, and three aircraft (two Su-25s and one Ka-52) by the 110th Mechanized Brigade on 13 May 2024.

The Brazilian Army has operated the RBS 70 since 2014 and began using the RBS 70 NG in 2019. The system was part of air defense for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The acronym RBS stands for "Robotsystem," Swedish for missile system. Early development included testing laser guidance using a remotely controlled car. The current system has been developed over more than 40 years, and its development history includes approximately 10,000 computer-simulated firings during initial testing.

The original RBS 70 system was introduced in Sweden to replace older short-range air defense systems. It was developed starting in 1969, entered production in 1975, and entered service in 1977. The Mk1 and Mk2 versions had ranges between 5,000 and 6,000 meters and a ceiling of 3,000 meters. The BOLIDE missile increased range to 8,000 meters and altitude to 6,000 meters. It is used in conjunction with various radar systems, including Saab’s Giraffe. The missile uses a booster and sustainer with smokeless solid propellant. The system can be deployed on tripods, vehicles, or warships.

By 2023, over 1,600 RBS 70 systems and more than 18,000 missiles had been produced. Finland integrated the BOLIDE variant into its ASRAD-R system, designated ITO2005M. Norway previously operated the system and later sold it to Lithuania. In 1990, the Royal Australian Navy deployed two RBS 70 units during operations in the Persian Gulf. In Sweden, the Robotsystem 70/90 was reactivated in 2017 and resumed interim service in 2019 to fill air defense gaps.