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Saab Bofors MBT-LAW (N-LAW)


Disposable, Shoulder-Fired Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Launcher


Sweden | 2003



"The MBT-LAW has been adopted by several world militaries including Finland, Indonesia, Sweden and the United Kingdom."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Saab Bofors MBT-LAW (N-LAW). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
2,000 ft
609.6 m | 666.7 yds
Max.Eff.Range
1
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
Physical
The physical qualities of the Saab Bofors MBT-LAW (N-LAW). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,016 mm
40.00 in
O/A Length
1,016 mm
40.00 in
Barrel Length
27.56 lb
12.50 kg
Weight
Shoulder-Fired; Electrically-Actuated; Single-Use; Disposable
Action
150mm
Caliber(s)
Single-Shot; Disposable
Feed
Integrated Optics.
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Saab Bofors MBT-LAW (N-LAW) Disposable, Shoulder-Fired Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Launcher family line.
MBT-LAW ("Main Battle Tank and Light Anti-Tank Weapon") - Base Series Designation.
N-LAW - Alternative Designation.
RB-57 - Swedish Army Designation.
102 RSLPSTOHJ NLAW - Finnish Army Designation.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/10/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Swedes developed the MBT-LAW ("Main Battle Tank and Light Anti-tank Weapon") as a shoulder-fired, man-portable, armor-defeating, infantry-level weapon. The rise of the MBT in the Cold War decades gave rise to increasing potency of tank-killing systems in turn, culminating in the many useful options experienced on the modern battlefields of today. Design of the MBT-LAW began by Sabb Bofors Dynamics in 2002 utilizing key qualities of several well-tested developmental systems as well as those accepted into the AT4 CS model of 1987 - this adopted by the United States Army as the "M136". The end-result is an appropriate answer to the constantly evolving threat that is the MBT.

The MBT-LAW fires a 150mm missile at subsonic speeds out to an effective range of 600 meters with a maximum range of 1,000 meters listed. The system includes the launcher which is disposable after a single-use. The launcher includes an optics set as well as its own power supply and features a basic tube form with accessible muzzle and breech. The open breech nature absorbs much of the recoil force which allows the MBT LAW to be shoulder-fired by a single person - usually over the right shoulder. Overall weight is 12.5 kilograms with an overall length of 1,016mm, allowing for inherent portability at the infantry level (a shoulder strap is provided). In this way, several MBT-LAWs can be carried into action by rifleman and brought to bear when needed, providing effective, portable tank-killing firepower against unsuspecting tanker crews from nearly any angle. As an armor-defeating weapon, the MBT-LAW can also be utilized against fortified structures with good results and holds the inherently quality of being able to fire from enclosed spaces - extremely useful in urban fighting.

The missile initially clears the launcher before igniting its propellant to provide an added safety measure for the firer. Initial velocity is rated at 131 feet per second and minimum engagement range is 20 meters for additional safety. Guidance is achieved through a "Predicted Line-of-Sight" (PLOS) system an inertial guidance while the warhead seated on each missile can attack targets through a top-down angle - usually the most vulnerable of any armored vehicle including MBTs.

In Swedish Army service, the MBT-LAW has been adopted under the "RB-57" designation. The weapon has also been taken under use by the armies of Finland, Indonesia, Luxembourg and United Kingdom (as of November 2013). The Finns designate the type as the "102 RSLPSTOHJ NLAW" while the British Army have replaced their aged stock of LAW 80 and ILAW weapons with the MBT-LAW.

The MBT-LAW is also known under its other recognized name, "NLAW" - the "N" noting its "Next-Generation" qualities.

July 2018 - It was announced that the nation of Malaysia had ordered an unknown quantity of NLAWs for its Army service.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

January 2023 - Sweden has announced the N-LAW as part of a support package to be sent to Ukraine.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Saab Bofors MBT-LAW (N-LAW). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Saab Bofors Dynamics - Sweden / Thales Air Defence - UK
National flag of Finland National flag of Indonesia National flag of Luxembourg National flag of Malaysia National flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National flag of Sweden National flag of Switzerland National flag of Ukraine National flag of the United Kingdom

[ Finland; Indonesia; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Saudi Arabia; Sweden; Switzerland; Ukraine; United Kingdom ]
1 / 1
Image of the Saab Bofors MBT-LAW (N-LAW)
Image copyright Crown Copyright, MoD British Army.

Going Further...
The Saab Bofors MBT-LAW (N-LAW) Disposable, Shoulder-Fired Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Launcher appears in the following collections:
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