RBS 86
General Characteristics:
Type:Standoff anti-submarine missile
Launch platform:Torpedo tube, VLS
Guidance:INS
Physical Characteristics:
Weight:1,800 kg
Length:7.0 m
Diameter:0.6 m (capsule diameter)
Warhead:
Performance Characteristics:
Propulsion:Solid fuel rocket
Speed:Mach 2.5
Launch Depth:up to 300 m
Range:5 - 100 km
Overview:
The RBS 86 is a long range standoff anti-submarine missile designed by SDI Missile & Fire Control Systems. The RBS 86 is available in two versions, an RBS 86S variant designed to be launched from SDI’s S70 surface ship VLS and an RBS 86U version intended to be launched from the 60 cm torpedo tubes on SDI’s Hydra and Erebus class submarines .
Airframe & Propulsion:
The RBS 86 missile consists of a single stage solid fuel rocket booster with a thrust vector control (TVC) system connected to a payload section containing an SDI F3S Viperfish lightweight anti-submarine torpedo with a ballistic nosecap and a stabilizing parachute assembly. A conical adapter section between the rocket motor and paylod sections contains the missile’s inertial navigation system and guidance electronics. When launched from submarine torpedo tubes the missile assembly also includes a watertight composite capsule surrounding the missile which provides environmental protection during submerged launch from a submarine torpedo tube and buoyancy to bring the weapon to the surface before the rocket motor fires. The missile’s rocket motor is 55 cm in diameter and 3.5 meters long and is constructed from filament wound graphite epoxy composite. The motor weighs 1,050 kg including 900 kg of composite propellant. The rocket motor burns for 25 seconds with a peak thrust of 100 kN, accelerating the missile to a burnout velocity of over mach 2.5 (750 m/s). The rear of the rocket motor includes four flip out tail fins for stabilization and is steered during rockrt motor burn by a turbo hydraulic thrust vector control system with a hydraulically actuated ball joint nozzle with +\- 10 thrust vector capability.
Guidance
Warhead
Flight Sequence
For submarine launch the encapsulated RBS 86 is loaded and fired like a conventional torpedo. Following ejection from the torpedo tube the missile continues forward for several meters until an umbilical breakwire connecting the missile to the torpedo tube is severed, causing the capsule to turn vertically and rise towards the surface. When an accelerometer inside the missile detects that the capsule has breached the surface the nose of the capsule is explosively ejected and the missile’s rocket motor is ignited, accelerating the missile out of the capsule and toward the target area. Following rocket motor burn the missile coats on a ballistic trajectory toward the target area. As the missile approaches the target area a set of drag flaps on the center adapter section are extended, slowing the missile to subsonic speeds before the adapter and rear rocket motor section of the missile are explosively separated from the forward payload section of the missile. The sidewalls of the payload section are then separated and the F3S Viperfish torpedo inside then deploys it’s attached parachute and descends to the sea surface. When the torpedo hits the water it’s aerodynamic nose cap shatters and it’s parachute detaches before it’s propulsion system is activated and it begins it search pattern.