The RBS 56 BILL is a Swedish manportable
SACLOS
Semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) is a method of missile command guidance. In SACLOS, the operator must continually point a sighting device at the target while the missile is in flight. Electronics in the sighting device and/or the ...
wire-guided anti-tank missile
An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a missile guidance, guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy armoured fighting vehicle, heavily armored military v ...
developed by AB Bofors.
History
Development began in 1979 and BILL entered production in 1985. The Swedish Army began receiving the missile in March 1988. BILL stands for Bofors, Infantry, Light and Lethal.
By 1996, 15,000 missiles had been produced and supplied to the Swedish and Austrian armies. Between 1996 and 1997, Brazil received a number of BILL missiles.
In the late 1990s, production shifted to the
RBS 56B BILL 2. The Swedish army received the first deliveries of the BILL 2 in 1999.
Design
A man portable BILL system consists of a missile in a sealed launch tube, tripod, day sight and thermal night-vision sight. The missile's
shaped charge
A shaped charge, commonly also hollow charge if shaped with a cavity, is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Different types of shaped charges are used for various purposes such as cutting and forming metal, ...
warhead is aimed downwards at an angle of 30 degrees and is triggered by a proximity fuze as the missile passes over the intended target.
The
top attack
A top attack weapon is designed to attack armored vehicles from above, to take advantage of the fact that the armour is usually thinnest on the top of an armoured vehicle. The device may be delivered as a smart submunition or a primary munition b ...
warhead allows the missile to strike the thinner top armour of tanks. To enable this to work effectively the missile flies 0.75 meters above the line of sight between the launcher and the target. A secondary effect of this is to enable the missile to be used to engage targets largely behind cover, for example a
hull down
In sailing and warfare, to be hull down means that the upper part of a vessel or vehicle is visible, but the main, lower body ( hull) is not; the term hull up means that all of the body is visible. The terms originated with sailing and naval war ...
tank.
When launched the missile is propelled from the launch tube at around 72 meters per second by a gas generator at the rear of the launch tube. Once the missile is clear of the launch tube the sustainer motor engages and accelerates the missile to a speed of 250 meters per second. Once the missile is about 400 meters from the launcher, the sustainer motor cuts out and the missile continues in free flight.
Operators
Current operators
*:
Marines
Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included Raid (military), raiding ashor ...
**100 RBS-56 Bill ordered in 1995, delivered in 1996-1997
*:
Ukrainian army
The Ukrainian Ground Forces (SVZSU, ), also referred to as the Ukrainian army, is a land force, and one of the eight Military branch, branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was formed from Ukrainian units of the Soviet Army after Declaratio ...
*:
Swedish army
The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years.
History
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...
, 1985–2013, 2021–
** Re-acquired RBS 56 in 2021 in anticipation of the Swedish Armed Forces introducing a new, modern, medium-range anti-tank missile, with planned delivery from 2025.
Former operators
*: through 2010, 3,000 purchased
**1,000 RBS-56 Bill ordered in 1989, delivered in 1989-1993
**2,000 RBS-56B Bill2 ordered 1996, delivered in 1998-2001
*: Purchased in 2006.
*
*
References
*
Anti-tank guided missiles of Sweden
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