Engineering:APILAS
| APILAS | |
|---|---|
 The APILAS on display at the 2014 Flag Day event, sponsored by the Finnish military. | |
| Type | Anti-tank weapon |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1985-present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | GIAT Industries |
| Manufacturer | GIAT Industries |
| Unit cost | €2,000 |
| Produced | 1985-2006 |
| No. built | 120,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9 kg (19.84 lb) |
| Length | 1,300 mm (51.2 in) |
| Barrel length | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
| Calibre | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Muzzle velocity | 293 m/s (961 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 25–350 m |
| Maximum firing range | 500 m |
| APILAS - 1983 1st Version | |
 APILAS and soldier 1[3] | |
| APILAS and soldier 2 | |
| APILAS and soldier 3 | |
| APILAS and soldier 4 | |
| APILAS launcher and rocket | |
| APILAS rocket projectile |
The RAC 112 APILAS (Armor-Piercing Infantry Light Arm System) is a portable one-shot 112 mm recoilless anti-tank weapon, designed in France by GIAT Industries. Over 120,000 of the APILAS launchers have been produced, and they are in service with many countries.
Description
The APILAS is supplied in an aramid fibre launcher tube with a retractable sight. The effective range of APILAS is from 25 m (it takes 25 m for the rocket to arm itself) up to 300-500 m depending on the target. The shaped charge warhead is electrically fused and will detonate at impact angles up to 80 degrees.[4]
Although heavy, the APILAS is able to pierce 700 mm of RHA.[2] Within the French Army it is categorized as "traumatic weapon", because of its blast and noise. A French soldier cannot fire it more than three times in his service during peacetime.[5]
An off-route mine system was developed using the APILAS rocket mounted on a tripod using a sensor package, or tripwires.
Production
84,000 were ordered in 1984 by the French Army to replace the LRAC F1 until the adoption of the Eryx short-range missile.[5] The French company Matra Manurhin Défense (now NEXTER - ex GIAT) produced 120,000 APILAS between 1985 and 2006.[6]
Specifications
- Calibre: 112 mm
- Length
- Launcher:
- Transportation: 1290 mm
- Fire-ready: 1260 mm
- Projectile: 920 mm
- Launcher:
- Weight:
- Overall: 9.0 kg
- Projectile: 4.3 kg
- Launcher: 4.7 kg
- Range: 25 m to 300 m + (moving target) 500 m + (static target)
- Engine: Solid-fuel rocket
- Muzzle velocity: 293 m/s
- Time of flight to 500 m: 1.9 s
- Warhead: 1.5 kg shaped charge capable of penetrating 720 mm RHAe or 2 m of concrete
- Trigger: Piezoelectric sensor with 50g black powder
Operators
Belgium[4]
Chad[7][8]
Chile[6]
Colombia[6]
Cyprus[8]
Djibouti[citation needed]
Finland[4]
France[4]
Italy[4]
Jordan[4]
Morocco[citation needed]
Saudi Arabia[8]
South Africa[9]
South Korea[4]
Spain[4]
Taiwan[4]
Ukraine[10]
Free Syrian Army[2]
See also
References
- ↑ Rottman, Gordon L. (1993). Armies of the Gulf War. Elite 45. Osprey Publishing. pp. 58-59. ISBN 9781855322776. https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (8 September 2015). "French APILAS anti-tank weapon in Syria". http://armamentresearch.com/french-apilas-anti-tank-weapon-in-syria/.
- ↑ the first versions did not have the gunner's face mask, but was added later due to unburn propellant after the projectile left the tube
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Gander, Terry J. (2001). "Giat Industries APILAS light anti-tank weapon". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002–2003. pp. 1790–1791. https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1791.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "ROQUETTE ANTICHAR DE 112 mm appelée également " RAC 112 APILAS "" (in fr). http://musee-infanterie.com/objet/880-.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Nous sommes fiers de – Lance-roquette anti-char APILAS" (in fr). http://www.manurhin-group.com/fr/company/we-are-proud-of.[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
- ↑ Darcourt, Pierre (January 1984). "Tchad: le désert des Tartares" (in fr). La Gazette des armes (125): 16–19. http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/gazette-des-armes/numero-125-janvier-1984/page-18-19-texte-integral.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The Military Balance 2009. Routledge. January 26, 2009. pp. 173, 264, 293. ISBN 9780415498463. https://books.google.com/books?id=8mNQDwAAQBAJ&q=apilas.
- ↑ "Establishment of the 1 Reconnaissance Commando". http://www.doc88.com/p-953217244083.html.
- ↑ Janovsky, Jakub; naalsio26; Aloha; Dan; Kemal. "Joining NATO, Joining The Cause: Finnish Aid To Ukraine". https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/09/joining-nato-joining-cause-finnish-aid.html.
Sources
- Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005–2006
- Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance 2005–2006
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