The Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive Robot 70 and Tridon Mk2 air defense systems. What makes these systems unique?
Sweden has allocated 1.2 billion Swedish kronor (approximately 65 million 714 thousand dollars) for the procurement of air defense systems for Ukraine. This was reported by the publication Omni.se.
The decision was made by the Swedish government. It involves the acquisition of the Robot 70 and Tridon Mk2 systems, which will be purchased through Defence Materiel Works.
Additionally, it is reported that Sweden will transfer air defense complexes of the same type that Ukraine already possesses, along with anti-aircraft weapons that can be carried by individual soldiers.
"Overall, what is being donated now will enhance the protection of both the Armed Forces of Ukraine and its population and civilian infrastructure," stated the leaders of the government parties.
Portable Air Defense Missile System Robot 70: What You Need to Know
RBS 70 is a portable air defense missile system developed in Sweden by Bofors Defence (now known as Saab Bofors Dynamics) and introduced in 1977. Currently, the fifth generation of the product is in use — the RBS-70 NG, which was unveiled in 2011. Since 2015, the RBS 70 MANPADS have been widely utilized in regular, multinational NATO tactical exercises aimed at improving the interoperability of ground forces' air defense, known as Tobruq Legacy.
Specifications of the air defense system:
- Effective range: over 9 km
- Altitude of engagement: 0-5000 m
- Deployment time: 45 seconds
- Reloading time: under 5 seconds
- BOLIDE missile speed: 2 Mach
- Geometric characteristics of the BOLIDE missile: length 132 cm (without booster), diameter 10.6 cm, tail span 32 cm, weight 15 kg.
- Weight of the launcher: 35 kg, equipped with an optical sight and thermal imager.
The new system can be operated remotely, carrying out air defense tasks from stationary positions, and can also be used against lightly armored ground targets, as the missile's warhead not only has fragmentation capabilities but also explosive effects.
It is worth noting that on January 30, Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonsson announced the transfer of the largest military aid package to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion — amounting to 1.2 billion dollars.