Ukrainian Defence Forces use APILAS grenade launchers

12 April, 2023 RAC 112 APILAS grenade launcher in Ukraine, April 2023. Photo credits: Ukraine Weapons Tracker Finland handed over an unknown number of RAC 112 APILAS anti-tank grenade launchers to Ukraine.

Ukraine Weapons Tracker analytical team reported this. Finland transferred French-made APILAS anti-tank grenade launchers to Ukraine as part of military assistance. It is noted that RAC 112 APILAS was transferred from the Finnish army reserves.

Finland previously did not publicly announce its intention to transfer these anti-tank weapons. However, back in February 2022, the country pledged to transfer 1,500 units of unnamed anti-tank systems.

Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Finland with an APILAS anti-tank grenade launcher. Photo from open sources

APILAS

The RAC 112 APILAS is a one-shot 112mm anti-tank grenade launcher developed in France by GIAT Industries in the early 1980s.

Since the start of production, the company has manufactured over 120,000 APILAS, which are in service with many countries. APILAS is a disposable aramid fiber launcher with an anti-tank grenade is placed in the middle of it. The grenade launcher is equipped with a removable sighting device and a tripod.

The total mass of the system is 9 kilograms. The effective range of APILAS is 300-500 meters depending on the type of target.

APILAS launcher tube

The warhead of the APILAS grenade launcher

The 108mm warhead of the anti-tank grenade launcher is capable of penetrating 700mm homogeneous steel, but it is non-dual-charge, which makes it sensitive to ERA installed on Soviet-era and Russian tanks. However, armor penetration of 700mm provides the ability to destroy most of the main battle tanks and all types of light armored vehicles of Russia.

Military assistance from Finland

Recently, as part of the so-called "tank coalition," Finland transferred to Ukraine six heavy armored engineering vehicles built on the basis of Leopard 2 tanks.

Open sources also report that the Ukrainian military uses m/50 HE-fragmentation grenades and 23 ItK 61 anti-aircraft guns of Finnish production. In addition, the Defense Forces use Finnish Sisu XA-180/185 armored personnel carriers and 120 KRH 92 120mm mortars.

XA-180 armored personnel carrier (APC) of the Armed Forces. December 2022.

Photo credits: Ukrainian Marine Command