View source for APILAS

{{Infobox weapon
|name=APILAS
| image= File:Apilas Lippujuhlan päivä 2014.JPG
|caption=The APILAS on display at the 2014 Flag Day event, sponsored by the Finnish military. 
|origin= France
|type=[[Anti-tank weapon]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
|is_explosive=yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service= 1985-present
|used_by=See [[APILAS#Operators|Operators]]
|wars= 
* [[South African Border War]]
* [[Gulf War]]<ref name ="gulf">{{cite book|title=Armies of the Gulf War|url=https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott|url-access=limited|series= Elite 45 |first= Gordon L.|last= Rottman|date=1993|isbn= 9781855322776|publisher=Osprey Publishing|pages=[https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott/page/n57 58]-59}}</ref>
* [[Syrian Civil War]]<ref name="FSA"/>
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=[[GIAT Industries]]
|design_date=
|manufacturer=[[GIAT Industries]]
|unit_cost=€2,000
|production_date=1985-2006
|number=120,000
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|weight={{convert|9|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}
|length={{convert|1300|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
|part_length={{convert|180|mm|abbr=on|1}}
|width=
|height=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=
|caliber={{convert|112|mm|abbr=on|1}}
|action=
|rate=
|velocity={{convert|293|m/s|0|abbr=on}}
|range=25–350 m
|max_range=500 m
|feed=
|sights=
}}
{{multiple image
|align= right
|width= 125
|image1= APILAS-ProjectileAUSA88.jpg
|width1=
|caption1= APILAS antitank rocket projectile
|image2= APILAS-AUSA88.jpg
|width2=
|caption2= APILAS launcher
}}

{{externalimage
|topic=APILAS - 1983 1st Version
|width=
|float=right
|image1=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/APILAS/APILAS-Soldier1.jpg APILAS and soldier 1]<ref>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</ref>
|image2=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/APILAS/APILASsoldier2.jpg APILAS and soldier 2]
|image3=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/APILAS/APILASsoldier3.jpg APILAS and soldier 3]
|image4=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/APILAS/APILASsoldier4.jpg APILAS and soldier 4]
|image5=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/APILAS/APILASrocket-launcher.jpg APILAS launcher and rocket]
|image6=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/APILAS/APILASrocket.jpg APILAS rocket projectile]
}}

The '''RAC 112 APILAS''' ('''Armour-Piercing Infantry Light Arm System''') is a portable one-shot 112&nbsp;mm [[Recoilless rifle|recoilless]] [[anti-tank warfare|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.<ref name="Janes 01"/>

Although heavy, the APILAS is able to pierce 700&nbsp;mm of [[Rolled homogeneous armour|RHA]].<ref name="FSA"/> 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.<ref name="musee">{{cite web|language=fr|title=ROQUETTE ANTICHAR DE 112 mm appelée également " RAC 112 APILAS "|url=http://musee-infanterie.com/objet/880-|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160803195557/http://www.musee-infanterie.com/objet/880-|archive-date=3 August 2016|website=musee-infanterie.com|access-date=12 December 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

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 (missile)|Eryx]] short-range missile.<ref name="musee"/> The French company [[Manurhin|Matra Manurhin Défense]] (now NEXTER - ex GIAT) produced 120,000 APILAS between 1985 and 2006.<ref name="manhurin">{{cite web|title=Nous sommes fiers de – Lance-roquette anti-char APILAS|trans-title=We are proud of – APILAS anti-tank rocket launcher|language=fr|website=manurhin-group.com|url=http://www.manurhin-group.com/fr/company/we-are-proud-of|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328151511/http://www.manurhin-group.com/fr/company/we-are-proud-of|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 28, 2013}}</ref>

==Specifications==
* '''Calibre''': 112&nbsp;mm
* '''Length'''
** Launcher:
***Transportation: 1290&nbsp;mm
***Fire-ready: 1260&nbsp;mm
** Projectile: 920&nbsp;mm
* '''Weight''':
** Overall: 9.0&nbsp;kg
** Projectile: 4.3&nbsp;kg
** Launcher: 4.7&nbsp;kg
* '''Range''': 25 m to 300 m + (moving target) 500 m + (static target)
* '''Engine''': [[Solid-fuel rocket]]
* '''Muzzle velocity''': 293&nbsp;m/s
* '''Time of flight to 500 m''': 1.9 s
* '''Warhead''': 1.5&nbsp;kg shaped charge capable of penetrating more than 750&nbsp;mm RHAe or 2 m of concrete
* '''Trigger''': [[Piezoelectric sensor]] with 50g black powder

==Operators==
[[File:APILAS operators.png|thumb|400px|Map with APILAS operators in blue]]

<!--Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed.-->
* {{flagcountry|Belgium}}<ref name="Janes 01"/>
*{{flagcountry|Chad}}<ref name="Chad">{{cite magazine|title=Tchad: le désert des Tartares|first=Pierre|last=Darcourt|pages=16–19|magazine=La Gazette des armes|language=fr|url=http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/gazette-des-armes/numero-125-janvier-1984/page-18-19-texte-integral|issue=125|date=January 1984}}</ref><ref name="Military Balance 2009"/>
* {{flagcountry|Chile}}<ref name="manhurin"/>
* {{flagcountry|Colombia}}<ref name="manhurin"/>
* {{flagcountry|Cyprus}}<ref name="Military Balance 2009">{{cite book|title=The Military Balance 2009|publisher=Routledge |date=January 26, 2009 |isbn=9780415498463|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8mNQDwAAQBAJ&q=apilas|pages=173, 264, 293}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Djibouti}}{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
* {{flagcountry|Finland}}<ref name="Janes 01">{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=Giat Industries APILAS light anti-tank weapon|encyclopedia=[[Jane's Information Group|Jane's]] Infantry Weapons 2002–2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1791|pages=1790–1791|year=2001}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|France}}<ref name="Janes 01"/>
* {{flagcountry|Italy}}<ref name="Janes 01"/>
* {{flagcountry|Jordan}}<ref name="Janes 01"/>
* {{flagcountry|Morocco}}{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
* {{flagcountry|Saudi Arabia}}<ref name="Military Balance 2009"/>
* {{flagcountry|South Africa}}<ref name="doc88">{{cite web|title=Establishment of the 1 Reconnaissance Commando |url=http://www.doc88.com/p-953217244083.html}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|South Korea}}<ref name="Janes 01"/>
* {{flagcountry|Spain}}<ref name="Janes 01"/>
* {{flag|Syria}}: 
**[[Syrian Arab Army]]
**[[Free Syrian Army]]<ref name="FSA">{{cite web|title=French APILAS anti-tank weapon in Syria |url=http://armamentresearch.com/french-apilas-anti-tank-weapon-in-syria/|first=N.R. 
|last=Jenzen-Jones|date=8 September 2015|website=[[armamentresearch.com]]}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Taiwan}}<ref name="Janes 01"/>
* {{flagcountry|Ukraine}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Janovsky |first1=Jakub |last2=naalsio26 |last3=Aloha |last4=Dan |last5=Kemal |title=Joining NATO, Joining The Cause: Finnish Aid To Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/09/joining-nato-joining-cause-finnish-aid.html |website=Oryx |access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{lwc|LRAC F1}}
* {{lwc|Eryx (missile)|Eryx}}
* {{lwc|LAW 80}}
* {{lwc|AT4}}
* {{lwc|Alcotán C-100|C-100}}
* {{lwc|Kestrel (rocket launcher)|Kestrel}}

==References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005–2006''
* ''Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance 2005–2006''

{{commons category}}

{{knds}}

[[Category:Anti-tank rockets]]
[[Category:Weapons of France]]
[[Category:KNDS France]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Disposable products]]

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