Free Republic

Saab has launched the next generation of its formidable RBS15 anti-ship missile series for international sale, with a little help from Norse mythology. Unveiling its latest evolution of the strike weapon at the Farnborough air show, the Swedish manufacturer is offering the product under the "Gungnir" family banner. This name refers to the spear of the god Odin – which was unstoppable and never missed its target, the company says. Developed in partnership with Diehl Defence, the latest evolution of the long-range weapon, more formally designated the RBS15 Mk4 Air, is for future integration with Saab's Gripen E. Sweden's FMV...

A test shooting on Gotland on Friday. Photo: Swedish Armed Forces. Sweden has reconstituted its old Cold War anti-ship defence system, pulling launch trucks out of museums, in its latest move to improve its defences on the island of Gotland. The Kustrobotbatteri 90 was the only land-based launcher ever developed for the Saab Robotsystem 15 (RBS-15) anti-ship missiles, but only one of the four planned batteries was delivered before the coastal artillery was disbanded in 2000. “We analysed whether we would be able to put something back together again which was capable of launching with,” Rear Admiral Thomas Engevall told...

The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) announced today that land-based coastal defence batteries are on their way back. By reintroducing them, the Swedish Navy will be able to launch Saab-made RBS15 anti-ship missiles from the country's coastlines against targets at sea at great distances. The Swedish Navy test firing a RBS15 anti-ship missile from the re-introduced coastal battery The coastal batteries will be deployed by the Swedish Navy. They are being re-created through the use of former decommissioned coastal missile batteries (launcher vehicles) as well as from missiles and launchers taken from decommissioned missile boats and corvettes. The system is based...

Swedish Navy's HMS Visby test fires first guided missile The Swedish Navy's first Visby-class corvette HMS Visby has successfully test fired a RBS15 anti-ship missile, marking a major milestone in the development of the ship, off dry-dock at Karlskrona, Sweden. Swedish Defence Procurement Agency (FMV) Visby corvettes project manager Anders Nilsson said: "This was perhaps the most important last milestone before the first Visby-class corvette enters full operational service." Third Naval Warfare Flotilla Visby's trials crew head Frank Johnson added: "Both the crew of the HMS Visby and staff have worked extremely hard in recent times to get everything to...

German Navy receives new anti-ship missile 09:31 GMT, September 23, 2011 The official roll-out of the RBS15 Mk3 heavy anti-ship missile for the German Navy took place at a ceremony of the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement. High-ranking representatives of the Federal Ministry of Defence, the Federal Office of Technology and Procurement, the German Navy as well as the industrial partners Diehl Defence and Saab Dynamics participated in the event at the naval base Kiel on September 22, 2011. Diehl delivers the RBS15 Mk3 anti-ship missile as the main weapon system of the German Navy´s new K130 corvette....