Group : Decoy Systems
Status : Active
Also Known As : BOL 510, LAU-138
Origin : Sweden
Contractor : Saab
Total Production : ?

BOL is a high capacity dispenser for chaff and flare designed for integration inside a missile launcher where it causes no reduction in either weapon payload capacity or flight performance thru added drag. Each BOL dispenser system holds 160 countermeasures packages of proven effective design released through a safer non-pyrotechnic mechanism. Rapid dispersion is achieved thru vortices which greatly improve dispersion.

The BOL countermeasures dispenser is operational in the United States (LAU-7+BOL = LAU-138 designation), Sweden, Italy, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. It has been integrated as standard equipment into a underwing pylon on production Typhoon (BOL 510) and Gripen aircraft. United Kingdom's Tornado and Harrier Gr7, Italy's Tornado aircraft, US Navy's F-14 Tomcat and US Air Force/National Guard F-15 Eagle also use BOL dispenser system.

In March 2005, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flight tested the BOL countermeasures dispenser system on its F/A-18 aircraft at Woomera Testing Range, Australia. BOL was tested as part of RAAF Hornet upgrade program phase 2.3 aimed at improving aircraft's electronic warfare self-defense capability. As of April 2005, Saab expected a production order to follow before the end of 2005.

In February 2006 Saab received a SEK190 million contract for the supply of BOL 510 countermeasures dispensing systems to be integrated onto Eurofighter/Typhoon tranche 2 aircraft. BOL deliveries were expected to run from April 2006 through November 2011. Tranche 2 included production of 236 Typhoons for the Air Forces of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Austria.