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Rb 08



Overview


Rb 08

Rb 08 missile on mobile launch rail as used in the coastal defense system.
Source: Mr Bullitt - © GNU Attribution Share Alike license

Origin
Sweden
Type
Anti-ship missile
Service life
1966 - 1982 (Halland class)
1968 - 1995 (coastal defense)
Status
Out of service
Development
1962 - 1965 (Rb 08)
Late 1950's - Early 1960's (earlier development projects)
Developer
Sweden
Production
1965 - 1970
Producer
Sweden
Number produced
98 missiles produced, plus several prototypes
Designations
Rb 08 / Robot 08
Kustrobot 08 (coastal defense system)
Notable users
Sweden - Navy
Sweden - Coastal artillery

Descrition


Introduction

The Rb 08 is an early Cold War era anti-ship missile of Swedish origin. The design was derived from the French Nord Aviation CT.20 target drone. The Rb 08 was one of the first operational Western anti-ship missiles.

Design

The Rb 08 was developed using two proven components. The body is a French CT.20 target drone which is modified to take the active radar seeker, and possibly also the warhead, of the Rb 04 air launched anti-ship missile. Two solid propellant booster rockets accelerate the Rb 08 up to about 500 km/h. The turbojet engine propels it to its cruise speed of Mach 0.7 to 0.8. A barometric height finder retains a flight altitude of about 600 m.

Guidance

The Rb 08 uses radio command guidance towards the indicated target area. The active radar seeker is then switched on. The seeker uses 3D imaging and has a maximum range of about 15 km. The seeker is somewhat primitive and cannot distinguish between different targets, selecting the most prominent one.

Firepower

The Rb 08 has a maximum range of 70 km. Radio command guidance gives it an over the horizon attack capability. The speed is rather low, the missile quite big and the flight altitude of 600 m make it vulnerable to close-in weapon systems. This vulnerability arose only later in its service life, since upon introduction such systems didn't exist yet. The warhead size is somewhat of a mystery, but could be similar to the 300 kg as used on the Rb 04.

Platforms

The Rb 08 was used to arm two Swedish destroyers of the Halland class about a decade after their introduction in service. The Rb 08 was also used in a coastal defense role on a mobile launch rail combined with several support vehicles.

Users

The Rb 08 was acquired only by Sweden. Nearly 100 missiles were produced. On the Halland class these were used until the early 1980's. The land based coastal defense system was replaced by the RBS-15TK in the mid 1990's. None of the Rb 08 remains in service.

Details


Facts Rb 08A
General
Origin
Sweden
Type
Anti-ship missile
Dimensions
Length
5.72 m
Diameter
0.66 m
Wingspan
3.01 m wide
1.32 m tall
Weight
1.215 kg with boosters
900 kg in flight
Guidance
Terminal phase
Active radar homing, 3D imaging, 15 km range
Initial phase
Radio command guidance
Warhead
Type
High explosive, pre-fragmented
Weight
Possibly up to 300 kg
Fuse
Impact
Engagement envelope
Propulsion
Turbomeca Maboré turbojet
2x solid propellant booster, 2 second burn time to initial speed of 500 km/h
Speed
Mach 0.7 to 0.8
Range
70 km
Altitude
600 m above sea level

Platforms


Twin rail naval launcher

Two Halland class destroyers were refitted from 1965 to 1966 with the Rb 08. A large twin rail launcher was fitted, with targeting computer located below deck. Before launch the launch rail is aimed in the direction of the target.

Coastal defense system

Swedish coastal artillery adopted the Rb 08 in 1968. The launch rail is fitted on a single axle trailer. The system is not self-sufficient since it relies on target acquisition from the interlinked radar network. Target coordinates are received by radio and entered into a truck mounted firing computer.

Media


Related articles


Halland class

The Swedish Halland class was the only class of ships ever armed with the Rb 08 anti-ship missile.