RBS15

RBS15 Mk3
General Information
Type	Anti-ship guided missile
Manufacturer	Saab Dynamics
development	1980s
Technical specifications
length	4.35 m
diameter	500 mm
Combat weight	805 kg with booster ; 630 kg without booster
span	1400 mm
Drive ; First stage ; Second stage	; Solid fuel booster; TRI 60 Turbojet
speed	Mach 0.9
Range	> 200 km
Furnishing
Target location	active radar target search
Warhead	250 kg of SAPHE
Detonator	Impact fuse
Weapon platforms	Planes, ships, trucks
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The RBS15 ( R o b ot s ystem 15 ) is a heavy anti-ship missile that is developed and produced by the Swedish manufacturer Saab Dynamics (formerly Saab Bofors Dynamics ). In 1979 the armaments manufacturer Bofors received a development order from the Swedish Navy for a new anti-ship missile , from which the RBS15 emerged. The system was introduced in Sweden in the mid-1980s . The RBS15 Mk3 version, which has been delivered since 2011, is produced by Saab together with the German company Diehl BGT Defense .

technology

The anti-ship missile can be launched from ships as well as from aircraft and trucks. The cylindrical weapon has a K _u band radar seeker in the nose and a section behind it for flight control and navigation. The flight to the target takes place with the help of inertial navigation , whereby target updates can be sent from the launch platform to the missile during the cruise flight. As of version Mark 3, you can also navigate using the Global Positioning System . Using programmed waypoints, course and altitude can be changed several times in order to attack targets from any angle. Several missiles can be programmed in such a way that they arrive at the target on different flight paths at the same time in order to saturate the target's defense systems with volley attacks. The final approach takes place with active radar target search close to the surface of the water, alternatively home-on-jam is also possible. In order to make interception by enemy close-range defense systems more difficult, the RBS15 also performs evasive maneuvers on the final approach. If the viewfinder loses the target, the target position is calculated based on the last known motion vector ( memory tracking ). Behind the electronics section follows the 200 kg warhead to which the drive section is attached. When starting from the ground, two booster rockets are attached to the left and right of the fuselage in order to accelerate the missile to Mach 0.7 and thus bring it faster to cruising speed and altitude. The boosters are not required when taking off from aircraft. The cruise itself takes place with a TRI 60 turbojet engine from Safran Microturbo with 3.73 kN thrust. The fuel is also housed in the stern.

Versions

Mk1

First version with a take-off weight of 790 kg (approx. 600 kg without booster) and a range of 70+ km. The sub-version RBS15F can be started from the air. Introduced in 1989. Uses the 9GR400 radar finder. This can be swiveled by ± 30 ° in azimuth and ± 15 ° in elevation and has a pulse power of 65–100 kW. The pulse duration is 0.2–1 microseconds, with an alternating pulse repetition frequency of 1000 to 4000 pulses per second. The weight of the armor-piercing warhead with fragmentation effect ( English semi-armor-piercing high-explosive, SAPHE ) is about 200 kg.

Mk2

Heavily revised version. The take-off weight increased to 800 kg and a new turbojet increase the range to 150 km. The navigation system has been improved and now allows 90 ° course changes on the final approach. In addition, a new SAPHE warhead weighing around 250 kg was scaffolded. The production contract was signed in May 1994 and it was introduced in 1998.

Mk3

First introduced to the public at IMDEX in March 1995 and developed from 1997 to improve stealth and maneuverability. For this purpose, the radar and infrared signature was reduced and a low probability of intercept radar was installed. This works as a frequency-modulated continuous wave radar in the milliwatt range. The transmission power is steadily reduced the closer the weapon gets to the target in order to neutralize conventional radar warning receivers. The range has been increased to over 200 km with the new TR 60-5 turbojet, the choice of the denser JP-10 fuel and the take-off weight increased to 805 kg. Estimates assume a range of up to 250 km. The weapon can also be used against land targets thanks to the built-in GPS receiver. The navigation system has been digitized and now allows failed attacks to be repeated ( English re-attack ). With the new altimeter , low-level flights can be flown up to 2 meters above the ground, depending on the swell . The maneuverability could be increased to 8 g.

Mk4

Is currently in development, as a collaboration between Germany and Sweden. The missile will likely have a radar-infrared dual viewfinder. The LPI operating mode is intended to be improved by a larger frequency spread . In addition, orientation should be improved by means of terrain navigation if the GPS reception is disturbed or falsified. At the same time, with the help of the radar and infrared sensors, characteristic points are to be used for navigation support. Presumably a two-way data link will also be installed. The aim is to replace the fragmentation / warhead optimized against ships with a multi-purpose warhead. The range should increase to around 400 km.

Users

Launch container of an RBS15-Mk2 missile

Germany Germany : The German Navy uses the Mk3 version on the Braunschweig-class corvettes . The first missiles were delivered in 2011. After two misses in 2013 and improvements by the industry, the operational test was successful in April 2015. In 2015, the Navy had 25 combat missiles and 4 telemetry missiles for its 5 corvettes.
Finland Finland : The Finnish Navy uses RBS15SF (Mk2, designation MTO 85) and RBS15SF-3 (Mk3, designation MTO85M). The launch platforms are the Rauma and Hamina-class corvettes, as well as Sisu trucks.
Croatia Croatia : For the Croatian Navy , which uses RBS15M from Tatra trucks and corvettes.
Poland Poland : The Polish Navy uses the Mk3 version on Hurricane-class speedboats.
Sweden Sweden : The Swedish Navy uses the RBS15 system on the Stockholm-class , the Gothenburg-class and on the new stealth corvettes of the Visby-class . Missiles are launched from Volvo trucks for coastal defense. The Saab 39 can also fly air-to-ground missions with the anti-ship missile.