RBS-15 - History

History

The Swedish Navy was pioneering anti-ship missiles with the Halland Class of destroyers using the RB08 missile since the early 1960s. Owing to the Defence decision of 1958 the main effect for the navy was a restructuring into a lighter force consisting of FAC vessels and a halt to destroyer procurement. This posed a problem as the existing RB08 missile required launch rails and a missile magazine in the destroyers, taking up space that was simply not there on smaller ships. Adding to the problems, each missile had to be individually prepared for launch and only two missiles could be on the launch rails at the same time. In comparison, the STYX missile used by the Soviet Union (which was the expected adversary) stored the missiles in individual containers on deck which left the missiles immediately available for launch. Tests were carried out on Plejad class FACs with a single bow mounted RB08 in the late 1960s, but these tests came to nothing.

Next attempt by SAAB to take an order for anti-ship missiles to equip the Norrköping class FACs of the Swedish navy was first presented in 1978 as under the project name "RB 04 Turbo" a development of the air force RB 04E missile with a turbofan engine changed wing configurations and start rockets to take off from land. The initial proposal was rejected as inferior to the Harpoon. The project under the leadership of Hans Ahlinder then worked out a proposal for a missile with greater capabilities and superior performance to the Harpoon. As a way to indicate that it was a new weapon the project name was changed from "RB 04 Turbo" to "RBS-15"

The first weapon contract was signed in 1979, at the last minute the Swedish government had opted not to buy the Harpoon anti-ship missile and opting for an indigenous design. The first missiles were delivered to the Navy in June 1984, and the ship version RBS-15 Mk. I was introduced.

The missile had been ordered in 1984 by the Swedish Navy to develop a coastal defense version of the RBS-15F. The missile was taken into Swedish Navy service as the Rb 15 by the Swedish Navy and became operational in 1985. The Swedish Air Force received their missiles a couple of years later. The Mk. I was produced from 1985 to 1990.

Work on a further developed version, the RBS-15 Mk. II, was initiated in the early 1980s. But it took until 1994, before a development contract was signed for the upgraded anti-ship missile. The Mk. II has the same range (70+ km), but the mid-course and terminal guidance system, as well as the radar and IR signature were upgraded. The Mk. II has been produced since 1998.

The development of the RBS-15 Mk. III began in the mid-1990s. Emphasis was put on increased range (due to larger fuel capacity and new fuel the range has been increased to some 200 km), improved accuracy (integrated GPS) and selectable priority targeting, which improved the weapon system's flexibility. The Mk. III missile will also be produced by Diehl BGT Defence of Germany for the new class of German stealth corvettes, and is likely to be later used on other German Navy vessels as well. Finnish truck maker Sisu produces missile launch trucks for RBS-15. The Mk. III has been in production since 2004.