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.
Although heavy, the APILAS is able to pierce 700 mm of RHA. 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.
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. The French company Matra Manurhin Défense (now NEXTER - ex GIAT) produced 120,000 APILAS between 1985 and 2006.
Specifications
Calibre: 112 mm
Length
Launcher: Transportation: 1290 mm Fire-ready: 1260 mm Projectile: 920 mm 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