APILAS
Anti-tank weapon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The RAC 112 APILAS (RAC - Roquette AntiChar (French for "anti-tank rocket"), APILAS - Armour-Piercing Infantry Light Arm System) is a portable one-shot 112 mm recoilless anti-tank rocket launcher, designed in France by GIAT Industries. Over 120,000 of the APILAS launchers have been produced, and they are in service with many countries.
| 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) |
| Caliber | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Muzzle velocity | 293 m/s (961 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 25–350 m |
| Maximum firing range | 500 m |
| External images | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
History
84,000 were ordered in 1984 by the French Army to replace the LRAC F1 until the adoption of the Eryx short-range missile.[4] The French company Matra Manurhin Défense (now NEXTER - ex GIAT) produced 120,000 APILAS between 1985 and 2006.[5]
Design
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.[6]
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.[4]
An off-route mine system was developed using the APILAS rocket mounted on a tripod using a sensor package, or tripwires.
