The APILAS (Armor-Piercing Infantry Light Arm System) is a French disposable, single-use rocket launcher.

History

The APILAS was made by Nexter, and over 120,000 have been made since its inception.

Design Details

The APILAS' missile is supplied in an aramid fibre launcher tube with a retractable sight. The APILAS' effective range is from 25 meters (27.3 yards) to 600 meters (656.2 yards), as the missile flies 25 meters before it arms itself. The shaped charge warhead loaded into the missile is electrically fused and will detonate at impact angles up to 80 degrees. Off-route mine systems were developed for the APILAS using a separate electronics package consisting of a tripod and a sensor package or tripwires among other peripherals.

Ammunition

The ammunition for the APILAS is a 112mm missile, which has a 1.5 kilogram (3.31 pounds) shaped charge capable of penetrating 720 mm RHAe (frontal armor estimate for a tank) or 2 meters of concrete. The missile arms itself after 25 meters (27.3 yards) of exiting from the launcher. The rocket's engine is a solid fuel rocket booster, and can fly 500 meters in 1.9 seconds.