SAAB B83 (RB83) ASM

[overscan]

The B83 was allocated SKr 400 Million in 1977 for initial development. It was expected to arm the B3LA light fighter design, but was clearly adaptable to other designs. It used an imaging infra-red (IIR) seeker working in the 7-14 micron band and based on the seeker of the cancelled RB72 AAM. In May 1978 BAe discussed collaboration, with one solution being the application of the B83 seeker to the BAe Sabre airframe.

Length: 1.65m
Diameter: 0.203m
Span: 0.57m
Weight: 70kg

Sources

• Bill Gunston, Illustrated Encyclopaedia of the Worlds Rockets & Missiles Salamander 1979, p115
• Mini-Maverick will arm B3LA fighter Flight International 9 Sept 1978, p936

[TinWing]

Here is a picture of the cancelled Rb 72 air-to-air missile from Urban Fredriksson's "Missile Non-Comparison" site:

http://www.canit.se/~griffon/aviation/img/satenas75-2/rb72.jpg

[overscan]

Better quality photo I picked up at Heathrow today. Only black and white though.

[TinWing]

Here is the Forecast International entry on the original RB72 AAM:

http://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/mm/mm0610.htm