The RBS 23, designated BAMSE, is a Swedish medium range, all-weather capable air defense system developed by Bofors and Ericsson (now both in the Saab group). BAMSE is designed for protection of military facilities, ground forces and high value infrastructures. It is intended to operate against very small and fast targets such as attack missiles, anti-radiation missiles, UAVs and cruise missiles. It can also engage high altitude flying targets. On their web site [1], Saab mention ground coverage of more than 1,500 km², altitude coverage of 15,000 m and range out to 20 km.
Contents |
The system consists of a Surveillance and Control Centre (SCC) and two to four Missile Control Centers (MCC). The missile control center trailers are located up to 20 km away from the SCC and interconnected via a cable or radio communications (up to 15 km).
The SCC is operated by a crew of one or two. It comprises an Ericsson GIRAFFE Radar 3D surveillance radar with an antenna mast of 8 to 13 meters. It is used for threat evaluation, combat coordination, with target acquisition, identification, tracking and prioritisation.[2] The SCC can coordinate up to four missile control centres. The system has a built-in simulation capability to carry out training.
The missile control center trailer depends on transportation vehicles which also carry additional missiles for reloading operations. The center is protected against fragments and nuclear, biological and chemical threats. It has two computer stations and is operated by one or two persons.[2] It comprises a Ka-band fire control radar with a 8 meters mast, IRST (infrared sensor for surveillance and tracking), IFF system, six ready-to-fire BAMSE missiles, and weather sensors. The MCC can be deployed in 10 minutes and complete reload of a MCC takes less than 4 minutes.
The missile used by the RBS 23 system is based on the RBS 70 [3], but unlike its predecessor (which is laser-guided) it is a radar command-to-line-of-sight (CLOS) missile, which means that the target has to be illuminated by the fire control radar until impact.[4] A booster has been added also. The missile is claimed to have high acceleration and high manoeuvrability. It is equipped with a fragmentation and shaped charge warhead and with both a proximity fuse and an impact fuse.[5]
The Swedish government ordered the RBS23 in 2000 and deliveries started in 2002.