Robotsystem 15 - RBS15
Brief History
The RBS 15 (Robotsystem 15) is a Swedish long-range anti-ship missile developed by Saab Bofors Dynamics in the late 1970s as a successor to the RB 04 missile. Development began in 1978 under the name RB 04 Turbo, but the design was extensively reworked into an entirely new missile. The first production contract was signed in 1979, and the missile entered service with the Swedish Navy in 1985. Since then, the RBS 15 family has evolved into several variants for naval, coastal defence, and air-launched use, with continuous upgrades in range, guidance, and resistance to electronic countermeasures.
Specifications
Mass:
RBS 15 Mk.I/F
- 746 kg (1,645 lb) (with boosters)
- 568 kg (1,252 lb) (in flight)
RBS 15 Mk.II
- 755 kg (1,664 lb) (with boosters)
- 577 kg (1,272 lb) (in flight)
RBS 15 Mk.III
- 820 kg (1,810 lb) (with boosters)
- 660 kg (1,460 lb) (in flight)
RBS 15 Mk.IV
- 810 kg (1,790 lb) (with boosters)
- 650 kg (1,430 lb) (in flight)
Length:
4,350 mm (14 ft 3 in)
Diameter:
500 mm (1 ft 8 in)
Wingspan:
1,400 mm (4 ft 7 in)
Warhead:
200 kg (440 lb) High explosives blast and pre-fragmented warhead.
Detonation mechanism:
Impact or proximity.
Engine
Turbojet.
Operational range:
RBS 15 Mk.I/F: 70 km (43 mi)
RBS 15 Mk.II: 100 km (62 mi)
RBS 15 Mk.III: > 200 km (120 mi)
RBS 15 Mk.IV: > 300 km (190 mi)
Flight altitude:
Sea skimming.
Maximum speed:
0.9 Mach (1111 km/h) Subsonic.
Guidance system:
RBS 15 Mk.I/F: 70 km (43 mi)
- Navigation: INS
- Target homing: J-band pulse radar
RBS 15 Mk.II: 100 km (62 mi)
- Navigation: INS
- Target homing: J-band pulse radar
RBS 15 Mk.III: > 200 km (120 mi)
- Navigation: INS + GPS, multiple 3D waypoints
- Target homing: J-band active radar homing with ECCM+
RBS 15 Mk.IV: > 300 km (190 mi)
- Navigation: INS + anti-jam GPS, multiple 3D waypoints
- Target homing: J-band active digital radar homing
Launch platform:
Naval ships, aircraft and land-based missile launchers.
In the picture is a RBS 15 Mk.II from Saab Bofors Dynamics In Karlskoga, Sweden.
Variants
RBS 15 Mk.I (1985)
Platforms:
- Norrköping-class fast attack craft (Sweden)
- Stockholm-class corvettes (Sweden)
- Göteborg-class corvettes (Sweden)
RBS 15 Mk.I/F (1989)
Platforms:
- AJ 37 Viggen
- AJS 37 Viggen
- JAS 39 Gripen A/B
RBS 15 Mk.II
Platforms:
- Stockholm-class corvettes
- Göteborg-class corvettes
- Visby-class corvettes (after upgrade)
- RBS 15KA coastal defence system (Volvo/Scania truck-mounted launchers)
RBS 15SF (Finnish Mk.II)
Platforms:
- Rauma-class missile boats
- Hamina-class missile boats
- Sisu truck-mounted coastal launchers
RBS 15 Mk.III
Platforms:
- Braunschweig-class (K130) corvettes (Germany)
- Orkan-class fast attack craft (Poland)
- MEKO A-200AN frigates (Algeria)
RBS 15F-ER
Platforms:
- JAS 39 Gripen C/D (planned/late integration)
- JAS 39 Gripen E/F
RBS 15 Mk.IV “Gungnir”
Platforms:
- Visby-class corvettes
- JAS 39 Gripen E/F
- Modern truck-mounted coastal defence launchers
Saab Dynamics RBS15 Mk.III anti-ship missile (exhibition model) on display at Open Day of Naval Engineering School Parow 2024
In the picture we see a JAS 39 GRIPEN A from F7 Skaraborg Wing with two RBS 15F.
- Yes
- No
- AJ/AJS 37 VIGGEN RBS15F
- JAS 39 GRIPEN A/B RBS15F
- JAS 39 GRIPEN C/D RBS 15F-ER
- JAS 39 GRIPEN E/F RBS 15 Mk.IV
Sources