Saab 305 / RB05
Board with color print of the SAAB RB05
TypeAir-to-surface and limited air-to-air
Place of originSweden
Service history
In service1972 – 2005
Used bySweden
Production history
ManufacturerMissile – Saab-Scania, Missiles and Electronics
Engine – Volvo Flygmotor[1]
Specifications
Mass305 kg (672 lb)
Length3.6 m (11.8 ft)
Diameter0.3 m (11.8 in)
Wingspan0.8 m (31.5 in)
Warhead160 kg high explosive
Detonation
mechanism
Proximity fuze
EngineVR 35[lower-alpha 1] liquid propellant rocket engine[1]
Operational
range
9 km (5.6 mi/4.9 nm)
Maximum speed supersonic
Guidance
system
radio controlled manual command to line of sight
Launch
platform
Saab 37 Viggen
Saab 105

The Saab RB05 (abbreviation of Swedish: robot 05, "missile 05"), initially named Saab 305 (RB 305)[lower-alpha 2] or AT 3 internally, was a short-range air-to-surface missile with limited air-to-air capability that was developed in the 1960s by the Swedish company Saab-Scania, Missiles and Electronics for the Swedish Air Force.

History

The RB 05 was developed as a ground attack missile for the Saab 37 Viggen fighter-bomber and Saab 105 trainer aircraft in 1967. The missile was tracer guided using radio controlled manual command to line of sight (MCLOS), which meant that aiming had to be done separate to piloting, either requiring a two-seat cockpit with a dedicated missile gunner, as per the Saab 105, or a central computer which could control the aircraft during guidance, as present on the Saab 37 Viggen.

During development, Saab used a variety of Saab 35 Draken prototypes for testing. Saab 35 prototypes with tandem trainer cockpits were used for many of the firing trials, as the guidance equipment could be easily retrofitted into the secondary cockpit to trial guidance with a dedicated missile gunner.

The RB 05 was issued for operative use in 1972.

Use

Inert robot 05 fitted on the intake pylon of a Saab AJ 37 Viggen fighter-bomber

The missile would usually be launched after a high-speed attack run at very low altitude and climb to 400 m for launch. The supersonic speed was deemed necessary to reduce the threat of surface-to-air missiles. Since RB 05 was roll-stabilized, the aircraft did not need to be aimed straight at the target when launching, and would immediately descend again.

Tracking the flares on the missile, the pilot would then guide the missile optically (the missile's engine was smokeless as to not obscure the view) with a joystick towards the target. Guidance commands were transmitted to the missile via a jam-proof radio transmission link.

Variants

  • Saab 305A – RB 05 A : initial variant with radio guidance, aimed optically using a tracer.
  • Saab 305B – RB 05 B : prototyped TV-guided variant. Tested in the early 1970s but the design was scrapped in favour of adopting the AGM-65 Maverick (RB 75) for economic reasons.
  • Saab 305C – RB 05 C : proposed command/IR guided version. During use the pilot would aim the aircraft on to the target. In the aircraft there would be an IR sensor that measured in the missile and gave data to the aircraft computer, which calculated control signals for the missile. Not much is known. Cancelled.

There also existed inert variants for mounting and flight training, painted in green with the text "blind" on the side. Live munition was painted with a yellow stripe over the warhead.

Operators

Inert training version of robot 05 under the wing of a Saab AJ 37 Viggen fighter-bomber. In service the RB05 was traditionally not mounted on the outer pylons for aiming reasons
 Sweden

Similar missiles

Footnotes

  1. ↑ VR 35 = Volvo Rocket 35?
  2. ↑ 305 = missile project, no. 5; series 300 is dropped when the missile enter service

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Jane's all the world's aircraft 1974-75. Janes Information Group. p. 64. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
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