7 Images
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILES, INTERNATIONAL
Date Posted: 18 July 2001
Jane's Naval Weapon Systems 35
OTOMAT/TESEO MARK 1/2/3; NGASM/MILAS
Type
Medium- to long-range anti-ship missiles/anti-submarine weapon.
Development
Following studies which began in 1967, the Otomat missile was developed as a private venture by OTO Melara (now Alenia
Marconi Systems-AMS) and Engins Matra (now Matra BAe Dynamics) from 1969. Firing trials began in 1970, the first complete
system test was carried out on 28 February 1972 (when a direct hit was scored) and development was completed in May 1973. The
first production missile, with provision for mid-course guidance updating as the TESEO system, was accepted in January 1976 by
the Italian Navy while the first export order was made by Venezuela, entering service when the FAC ARV Federación was
commissioned in March 1975.
Development of an extended-range version, Mark 2, began in May 1973 with the first missile launched in January 1974 and
development completed in 1976. From this the French developed a lightweight version, Otomat Compact, with a new
launcher-container. Coast defence versions have also been produced.
During the late 1980s the partners considered developing a supersonic Otomat as Otomach which would have been capable of
Mach 1.8. However, they concluded that even increases in velocity of 200 or 300 per cent would still leave the missiles vulnerable
to defensive systems. The keys to survival, they concluded, were `stealth' and `intelligence' and during the Paris Air Show of 1993 it
was revealed they were considering a combination of these features as a successor to Otomat. As early as 1991, a private venture
study was conducted with a view to producing a `Stealth' upgrade of the missile but the subsequent evolution remains obscure, and
the partners appeared to examine separate approaches while remaining in consultation. By October 1992, the French Defence
Ministry opted not to consider an improved Otomat but the Italian Defence Ministry funded a US$19 million study into future
anti-ship missile requirements based upon a 'stealthy' Otomat which led to the Otomat/TESEO Mark 3. A model of this missile was
shown at Euronaval in October 1994 and US Navy interest led to an MoU being signed in November 1995 for a joint analysis of
options for a New Generation Anti-Surface Missile (NGASM). It was anticipated the weapon would enter service circa 2003-2005
but during the late 1990s the US Navy became more interested in land-attack weapons and the project dissolved in 1999, but not
before the Italian Defence Ministry awarded AMS a contract to develop a dual seeker for the new weapon. It is anticipated full scale
development of the NGASM will begin about 2005 for completion about 2012.
In the late 1990s AMS began considering improvements to the Otomat Mark 2 missile to improve sales and to provide customers
with product continuity until NGASM is introduced. Development of the Block III weapon (Blocks I and II were respectively the
original French and Italian versions) incorporating insensitive munition warhead and booster began and Malaysia became the first
customer, the missiles being installed in the former Iraqi 'Assad' class corvettes which entered service from July 1997. At Euronaval
2000, plans to develop a Block IV version were announced as both new-build and upgrade which will ensure the first-line service of
the missile until circa 2025. It is anticipated that full-scale development of Block IV will begin in 2001 for existing ships of the
Italian Navy and the `Horizon' class. In 2000, AMS won a three-year contract to upgrade Egypt's Otomat Mark 1 missiles to Mark 2
Block IV standard with lightweight launchers.
The Otomat is also the basis of the Milas anti-submarine torpedo delivery system which has been offered as a combined weapon
with the anti-ship missile. Milas (Missile de Lutte Anti-Sous-marine) evolved from a French Navy requirement in the early 1980s to
replace the Malafon (qv) system in the face of increased threats from quiet submarines in waters with poor acoustic conditions. The
Italian Navy, at around the same time, also sought a rapid reaction, long-range torpedo delivery system and originally planned to
acquire Super Ikara. By 1982 the Otomat partnership was examining such a weapon system using the missile as the basis but
replacing the warhead and guidance system with a homing torpedo. Late in 1985 the French DGA proposed to the Italian Defence
Ministry that they should both develop such a weapon and in mid 1986 an agreement was signed between the two governments and
in 1991 GIE Milas was created to develop and to produce the system.
Milas was originally scheduled to carry domestically produced torpedoes, the DCN Murène for French versions and the
Whitehead A290 for Italian ones. The decision to combine the two torpedo programmes to produce the MU90 Impact (qv) delayed
Milas development, with in-service dates steadily slipping from 1990 to 1993 then 1995 and finally 1996. The first flight trials were
held in August 1989, a ballistic firing with a dummy Impact was conducted in May 1993 and by the end of 1993 some 10
launchings had been carried out. In April 1994 the first complete Milas was tested in the destroyer Carabiniere and successfully
delivered a torpedo into the water. Development was completed in September 1999 but in April 1998 the French government
decided to abandon the programme as part of a cost-cutting measure. The Italian government continued to support the Milas
programme and in the autumn of 2000 decided to equip the 'De La Penne' class destroyers.
Description
The Otomat system consists of the missile, launcher-containers with power supply, a control console, a computer and optional
mid-course guidance system.
The Otomat missile is of broad cylindrical shape with rounded nose and slightly tapered tail. There are four air inlets
approximately half-way along the body and on top of these are short, swept wings each with an updating receiver antenna at the tip.
In Otomat Mark 1 these wings are fixed but in Otomat Mark 2 they are folded. Cropped, delta-shaped fins are behind the wings and
in-line with them. Two 75 kg SNPE solid propellant boosters, each developing 3,500 kg of thrust, are installed laterally.
Internally the missile is divided into the seeker compartment, the warhead and instruments compartment, the fuel tank with
JP5-standard kerosene, a small oil tank, actuators, and the Turbomeca TR 281 Arbizon III turbojet which develops 400 kg of thrust.
The 210 kg semi-armour-piercing warhead, which can penetrate 8 cm of nickel-chromium armour, contains 65 kg of explosive and
includes both impact and proximity fuzes. Behind it are the altimeter, Thomson-TRT AHV8 radio and gyroscope, a junction box,
autopilot and flight computer with converter. Also within the warhead instruments compartment are two altimeter antennas.
In the Mark 2 version, the fuel tank is extended forward until it is almost in-line with the air inlets. The computer and autopilot
have been reduced in size by exploiting later electronic developments and mean they take up less space which they now share with
the junction box.
The French Mark 1 uses the Thomson-CSF Col Vert two-axis active radar seeker with dive attack terminal phase. The Italian
Mark 1 uses the SMA ST-2 single-axis, pseudo-monopulse seeker to carry out sea-skimming attacks only. The Mark 2 versions use
mid-course correction systems to achieve longer ranges. The Italian version is designated TESEO while the French system was
originally designated DOT (Designation d'Objectif Transhorizon) but was later renamed ERATO (Extended Range Automatic
Targeting of Otomat).
The ERATO system is either integrated with the ship's combat system or, through a datalink, to helicopters for target designation
and mid-course guidance. This system consists of a dedicated CLIO console, a technical cabinet with computers, antennas,
connection boxes and stands for between four and eight launcher containers.
The TESEO weapon control system also has dedicated consoles. In major warships this is the SMA MM/OJ-701 weighing 230 kg
and is 0.8 × 1.2 × 1.8 m. It features a 12 in (30.5 cm) PPI screen and an A-scope. The remaining equipment, consisting of computer
and power supply box weighs 340 kg. In smaller warships, such as fast attack craft, the more compact MM/OJ-702 console is used.
This features a 16 in (40.6 cm) display. The remaining equipment in the TESEO shipborne fit includes a computer, a power supply
box and a launcher power supply unit. Their combined weight comes to 460 kg. The power requirement for OJ-701 is 4 kW.
For mid-course guidance the TESEO system uses the Marconi Italiana PRT 400 Series mid-course guidance system; the PRT 401
or PRT 403 command system (official designation TG1) and the PRT 402 transceiver (TG2). The command systems consist of a
high-gain antenna (directional in the PRT 401 and rotating in the PRT 403), command and tracking units together with a high-power
microwave transmitter which may be interfaced with the ship's tactical data handling system or command/weapon control system.
The PRT 402 consists of receiver and transmitter antennas, a transceiver with RF sections and signal processor facilities.
Other versions of the PRT 400 extend the operational capability of the Otomat series. The PRT 404 is a lightweight shipborne
guidance system suitable for fast attack craft, while the PRT 405 (or TG-2 in Italian service) is a helicopter-borne tracking and
datalink system. The PRT 404 consists of a solid-state transceiver with four-channel position data plot extractor and
klystron-powered transmitter, and a two-axis stabilised high-gain antenna. This system is usually interfaced with the ship
fire-control system.
The PRT 405, which weighs only 14 kg, features a transceiver, omnidirectional antenna and a display keyboard.
All versions of the Otomat missile are housed in a launcher-container. The container weighs 1.61 tonnes and is inclined at an
angle of 15º with the missile suspended from a ceiling launch rail. The containers may be deployed individually around the ship or
in pairs or in four-round launcher assemblies weighing 6.94 tonnes.
The target may be acquired by the ship's radar, by the radars of friendly ships or by helicopter radars. Data on the target's location
are transmitted to the missile's autopilot and the turbojet is started. Once it has reached full power the boosters are ignited and the
missile is launched. The missile can turn through an angle of ±200º so the warship does not have to be facing the target during the
launch phase.
Once the missile has been launched it climbs to 150 m (80 m in Otomat Mark 1) assisted by the boosters which burn for 4
seconds until it reaches cruising speed some 2.15 nmi (4 km) from the launch point; here the boosters are jettisoned. It then drops to
a cruising height of 15 to 20 m which is suitable for ensuring a good communications link with the mother ship although still
difficult for the target to observe. It continues towards the target with mid-course guidance correction until the radar seeker, which is
azimuth only, is activated at a point 4 nmi (7 km) from the target's estimated location and scans a 40º sector, acquiring the target at a
range of about 6.5 nmi (12 km) the missile descending to some 10 m when lock-on is secured at a range of some 2.5 nmi (5 km).
For the terminal phase the Otomat drops to 2 m. With the French seeker the missile automatically climbs to 175 m when it is some
2.5 nmi (5 km) from the target and when it is a nautical mile (1.6 km) away it begins its terminal phase with a 7º dive.
With the ERATO system the launching sequence is similar but for engaging targets at longer ranges (for example, more than 35
nmi or 65 km) the missile reaches a cruise altitude of 900 m. If a sea-skimming approach is required the missile drops to 15 m after
receiving mid-course guidance from an Aerospatiale SA 365F Dauphin helicopter with Agrion 15 I/J-band radar.
The terminal phase is similar to the Mark 1 but the French seeker operates in azimuth and elevation and a dive attack capability is
added. In this case, the missile approaches to within 4 nmi (7 km) of the target before conducting a pop-up manoeuvre to about
2,000 m to conduct a dive attack at an angle of 7º. The ERATO system is able to launch four missiles in a salvo and to control up to
six (later eight) in flight simultaneously.
In the TESEO system it is reported that the missile is fired not at the target but towards the helicopter. This is an Agusta-Bell AB
212ASW with SMA MM/APS-705 I-band radar and PRT-405 tracking and datalink system. It is reported that only when the missile
passes under the helicopter does the latter transmit target location data.
The Otomat system is capable of engaging two separate targets simultaneously in sea states up to force 7.
The Mark 2 Block III involves the addition of a strap-down inertial measurement unit and the installation of insensitive munition
warhead and booster propellant. The Block IV will incorporate these measures and will also involve a new radar signal processor to
improve seeker performance as well as the repackaging of the avionics which creates the potential for extra fuel space, although
there are no immediate plans to enlarge the fuel tank. A Global Positioning System (GPS) capability for more accurate navigation
will be added. A major improvement in the Block IV will be in the launch-control system where the dedicated MM/OJ-701 and
MM/OJ-702 control consoles will be replaced either with a simple panel or an interface within a multi-function control console,
using a PowerPC processor and C++ language software capable of launching four missiles simultaneously.
The Block IV will ensure better littoral warfare capability including improved target identification, mission planning,
co-ordination and re-attack as well as being capable of land-attack.
Many of these features will be incorporated in NGASM which is also likely to involve a substantial redesign of the airframe to
extend range and to reduce the radar and infra-red cross-sections. Assuming the 1994 model continues to be the basis for the
external design, the most substantial area of change will be forward of the air inlets with the airframe apparently slimmer than the
rear, shaped to reduce the radar cross section and stepped to allow for the dual seeker. The air inlets will be shaped and wider chord
wings added. The missile body will probably have the same diameter as before but it will be longer to accept a larger fuel tank. The
fins at the rear of the missile have been completely redesigned and are much larger than before. The missile will have redesigned
boosters.
NGASM will be a dual-role (anti-ship/land attack) weapon with J-band (12-18 GHz) radar and imaging infra-red electro-optic
seeker. Earlier AMS publicity material suggested that Otomat/TESEO Mark 3 would have a slightly smaller warhead (205 kg from
210 kg) to increase fuel capacity and would be capable of engaging multiple targets with each missile assigned a specific target
and/or target selection from four preselected tracks. Single firing mode at 20 second intervals or three-missile salvo launches at 3
second intervals will also be possible. The missile will be capable of three waypoints along its course and the terminal phase options
include sea-skimming or pop-up and dive.
Milas is a long-range torpedo delivery system capable of carrying a lightweight weapon to the Mediterranean First or even
Second Convergence Zones. Essentially it consists of an Otomat Mark 2 missile in which the seeker and warhead compartments are
replaced by a lightweight torpedo with a four-fin disposable fairing linking the weapon with the rear of the missile. The weapon of
choice is the Eurotorp MU90 Impact but Milas will also be compatible with the Eurotorp/Whitehead A244/S Mod 1 (qv) and the
Raytheon Mark 46 (qv).
In stand-alone systems the missile will be housed in a launcher-container weighing 1.8 tonnes loaded. It will be supported by a
fire-control system with a dedicated control console, processor and interface linked to the ship's fire-control system. The ASW team
in the CIC will also be capable of operating the Milas.
The ship sonar system will detect, classify and locate the target and transmit range and depth data to the missile's inertial
navigation unit. Corrections may be passed after launch from the ship or from aircraft by datalink which permits several mid-course
updates. Launching will follow the usual sequence and the boosters will carry the missile to its cruising altitude of 300 m where the
boosters will be ejected and the turbojet will carry the missile into the cruise phase.
Upon arrival at the target area the turbojet will be shut down and the torpedo will separate from the airframe, its descent slowed
by parachute. Upon entering the water the parachute will be ejected and the weapon sensor will be activated to begin a search
pattern. The manufacturers claim the elapsed time between the missile being launched at a target 19 n miles (35 km) away and the
torpedo entering the water is 3 minutes.
The Otomat/Milas system would consist of a workstation including a specialised computer to interface with the ship combat
system, computer/missile interfaces, a dual-purpose launcher-container and a datalink. The workstation will be able to operate in
surface-to-surface or surface-to-underwater mode, to select the appropriate launcher unit and to make the appropriate preflight
preparations. Each cluster of up to four launcher containers would have a missile control unit and a torpedo control unit, the latter
linked to the torpedo setting panel. The launcher-containers will be 6.06 m long, 1.38 m wide and 0.88 m high and will weigh 1.65
tonnes (Otomat) or 1.91 tonnes (Milas) when loaded.
The manufacturers state that the control system console would weigh 250 kg, the datalink system 130 kg and the other elements
for a four-ramp cluster about 175 kg. The system would usually use 115 V, 60 Hz three phase electricity supply but the missile
control unit would also use 440 V, 60 Hz three phase and its maximum power requirement would be 20 kVA over 2 seconds.
Operational status
Some 90 systems and 1,080 rounds have been produced and the system was selected by 11 navies. In addition to naval versions,
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have coastal versions. Production of new built Otomat Mark 2 ceased in 1991, but Block III is available as
both new-build and retrofit. Full-scale development of Block IV is anticipated to begin about 2002 and that of NGASM will begin
about 2005.
Country Class Type Otomat Mark Launchers/ Search
Missiles radar
Bangladesh Daewoo type FF 2 4/4 N/k
Egypt* `Ramadan' FAC 1/2 4/4 Marconi S820
`October' FAC 1/2 2/2 Marconi S810
Iraq 1 `Assad' FC 2 6/6 RAN 12
Italy 2 `Giuseppe Garibaldi' CV 2 4/4 SPS-702
Vittorio Veneto CG 2 4/4 SPS-702
`Animoso' DD 2 2/4 or 4/8 SPS-702
`Audace' DD 2 4/8 SPQ-2D
`Maestrale' FF 2 4/4 SPS-702
`Lupo' FF 2 8/8 SPQ-2F/
RAN 11
'Artigliere' FF 2 4/8 RAN 12
`Minerva' FC 2 4/4 SPS-774
`Sparviero' FAC 2 2/2 SPQ-701
OPV PB n/k 2/4 SPS-703
Kenya `Nyayo' FAC 2 2/4 AWS-4
Libya `La Combattante II' FAC 2 4/4 Triton
Malaysia 'Assad' FC 2 3/6 RAN 12
Nigeria `MEKO Type 360' FF 1 8/8 AWS-5
Peru Almirante Grau CG 2 4/8 DA 08
`Lupo' FF 2 8/8 RAN 11
Saudi Arabia 3 `Type F2000S' FF 2 2/8 Sea Tiger
Venezuela 4 `Lupo' FF 2 8/8 RAN 10
`Constitución' FAC 2 2/2 SPQ-2D
Notes: 1 Of the 'Assad' class corvettes ordered by Iraq, two remain under nominal Iraqi control at La Spezia, Italy and can
be fitted with Otomat although the launchers are not installed.
2 In the Italian `Minerva' class the corvettes are fitted for Otomat but the missiles are not normally carried. The 'Artigliere'
class were 'Lupo' class frigates built for Iraq and later taken over by the Italian Navy.
3 Only Saudi Arabia is believed to operate with the ERATO system. Other customers are believed to use TESEO.
4 In the Venezuela FACs only PC12, PC14 and PC16 are equipped with Otomat.
*Egyptian missiles are being converted from Mk 1 to Mk 2 versions.
Specifications
Otomat Mk 1 Otomat Mk 2 Milas
Length 4.46 m 4.46 m 6 m
Diameter 40/46 cm 40/46 cm 46 cm
Wing span 1.35 m 1.35 m 1.35 m
Weight 1 762 kg 762 kg 800 kg
770 kg 770 kg n/k
Max speed M0.9 M0.9 M0.9
Range 32 nm (60 km) 86 nm (160 km) 2.6-29.6 nm (5-55 km)
Note: 1 Weight of anti-ship missiles without and with boosters.
Contractors
Alenia Marconi Systems.
Matra Défense.
GIE Milas (Milas).
UPDATED
The SMA MM/OJ-701 consoles used in frigate-size vessels and above
The SMA MM/OJ-702 consoles are used in fast attack craft and similar size vessels
An Otomat Mark 2 emerges from its launcher
A model of TESEO 3 shown at Euronaval in October 1994 (E R Hooton)
5 Images
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILES, SWEDEN
Date Posted: 28 January 2002
Jane's Naval Weapon Systems 02
RBS 15M
Type
Medium-range anti-ship missile.
Development
Development of the RBS 15 began in the early 1970s to replace the Rb 08, a missile developed by Nord Aviation (later
Aerospatiale) from its CT-20 target drone (see Exocet). Domestic and foreign solutions were considered by the Swedish
Defence Matériel Administration (FMV) which considered the domestic RBS 15, an evolutionary development of the
air-launched Rb 04, as well as the US Harpoon (qv) during the late 1970s.
In July 1979, the FMV selected the RBS 15 and placed a SEK600 million development contract with Saab Bofors Missile
Corporation (SBMC) for whom Saab acted as prime contractor. The initial contract was for a ship-launched weapon but there
were options for air-launched and coast defence versions. In 1982, the FMV took up its option on the air-launched version
(RBS 15F).
The following year, Saab Missiles (now Saab Dynamics) was founded and this company subsequently assumed
responsibility for negotiating all contracts for the RBS 15, including a coast defence version (RBS 15K).
Development of the system was extremely rapid. Firing trials began in 1982 on board the `Norrköping' class fast attack craft
Piteå. Development was completed two years later and the RBS 15M became operational in 1985. In 1983, the ship-launched
version was ordered by Finland which, like Sweden, has also ordered the coast defence version.
The first naval production version was RBS 15M-1, which was succeeded first by the RBS 15M-2 (1985-1991) then the
RBS 15M-3 (and the coastal defence K version) between 1990 and 1995. Export versions were RBS 15B for Yugoslavia and
RBS 15SF-1 for Finland (SF-2 is the Finnish equivalent of RBS 15K). All of these were RBS 15 Mark 1 standard missiles but,
during the 1980s, development of an improved version, RBS Mark 2 or Mark II, had begun. On 21 April 1994, a SKr 500
million (US$865 million) development contract for Mark 2 was awarded to Saab and simultaneously it was announced that all
the Swedish Mark 1 missiles would be upgraded to Mark 2/Mark II standards. Development of Mark 2 was completed in
October 1997.
Simultaneously, a parallel programme was launched for a new-generation RBS 15 which Saab initially conducted as a
private venture. Development of this weapon system, RBS 15 Mark 3, is proceeding with live firings scheduled around the
New Year of 1997/1998 and verification of the weapon by 1999. Trials of the new seeker were conducted from August 1997 in
South Africa.
It will be available only as a new-build weapon although it is possible that elements of the new technology may be retrofitted
into older weapons. Submarine-launched land-attack versions were being considered by the Swedish Navy during the spring of
1997 with the manufacturers apparently conducting feasibility studies. The company developed a navigation system, imaging
infra-red seeker and automatic target recognition software for a version proposed to meet a British air-to-surface missile
requirement, but in July 1996, the Swedish Chief of Naval Staff stated there was no urgency to this requirement which might
not be introduced until 2010. However, in June 2000 Saab revealed plans for an RBS 15 Mark 3+ with a range in excess of 105
n miles (200 km) although an improved weapon is unlikely to appear for another five to 10 years.
On 24 September 1999, Saab Dynamics and Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik (BGT) signed a memorandum of understanding in
which the RBS 15 Mark 3 would be marketed for the Germany's forthcoming K-130 corvette and F-125 frigate requirements.
BGT will have prime German work-share if the missile is selected for the Bundesmarine.
Description
The RBS 15 system consists of the missile, with its launcher-container, and the ship system. The missile is of cylindrical
cross-section with ogival nose. There are delta planform canards in cruciform configuration while the four folding wings are of
cropped delta shape. At the rear of the missile are two vertical boost-phase stabilisers. On top of the missile are two brackets
which are attached to the launcher-container guide rail, while on the underside is the air intake.
Internally the missile is divided, from front to rear, into guidance/electronics, warhead/fuel, and propulsion sections with a
detachable tailcone to which the stabilisers are attached. In the nose is the CelsiusTech (formerly Philips Elektronikindustrier
AB - PEAB) 9GR400 monopulse J-band (12 to 18 GHz) seeker. The broadband, frequency-agile radar with its digital
processing is claimed to provide a high ECCM performance. The seeker has two modes which may be selected by the operator;
active or active/passive lock on.
Behind the seeker is the autopilot and the electropneumatic actuation system, the FM-CW radar altimeter and the logic unit.
The logic unit acts as both the missile fire-control datalink and the test unit. It also activates the missile's pneumatic and
pyrotechnic systems. All these subsystems are provided by Saab Missiles.
The FFV 200 kg high-explosive blast fragmentation warhead and a tank of paraffin-based fuel occupy the centre section of
the missile and in the rear is the Microturbo TRI 60-2 Model 077 single-spool turbojet. This is pyrotechnically initiated and
features a three-stage axial compressor and a single-stage axial turbine. Attached to the missile are two 82 kg Atlantic Research
Corporation (ARC) solid composite propellant boosters which take the missile to its cruising speed. These boosters have 60 kg
of propellant which is cast in case.
The missile is installed in a Bofors-manufactured light alloy container weighing 750 kg empty (1,540 kg with a missile). The
container has two doors at each end and is 4.5 m long, 1 m wide and 1 m high. The missile launch rail is in the top right-hand
corner of the container so the missile is installed on its side at a 45º angle to the vertical. One or two missile containers,
inclined at an angle of 21º, are carried by the launcher support structure which is bolted to the deck. The structure is 4.93 m
long, 1.37 m wide and with two launcher-containers is 3.85 m high.
The ship system is operated by one man and consists of up to four launcher assemblies and eight missiles, control and
display panels, a computer, launcher switching units and power supply. The total weight of such a system, with eight missiles,
is approximately 14.6 t. The system receives data from ship sensors, the ship fire-control system or from external sensors on
land, sea or air. The data is displayed on a 56 × 60 × 25 cm fire-control panel to the operator and to the ship's commander on an
engagement course indicator. The fire-control panel and the computer are in the ship's combat information centre.
There are three modes of operation: test, simulation and combat. The combat mode has preparation and firing submodes with
the former offering automatic and/or manual selection of target data, missile readiness, tactical parameters and salvo numbers.
The tactical parameters' data includes seeker search pattern, target selection logic and trajectory. There is a separate selection of
the distance the missile will travel in the high-level cruise phase. Using this and other data, the system calculates missile
heading, seeker parameters, tactical boundaries and the time to the point when the missile will enter the low-level cruise phase.
The firing submode is initiated manually but the selected missiles are automatically activated and their container doors are
automatically opened. The system compensates for ship motion and ignites the boost motors which burn for approximately 3
seconds before being jettisoned. As the missile reaches its maximum altitude the turbojet is activated and the missile turns
towards the target, the maximum offset being about 90º. It then enters a predetermined high-level cruise phase, which allows it
to overfly islands, then descends to the low-level cruise phase.
At an appropriate distance from the target, the seeker is activated and the predetermined search pattern is adopted. Once the
seeker has locked on to the target the missile can then enter its terminal sea-skimming phase.
The versions of the Mark 1 missile differ only in minor improvements to the seeker and guidance systems, the M3 version
having extra guidance features but otherwise being interchangeable with the M2. Upgrading these weapons to Mark 2/Mark II
standard will mean further improvements to the seekers and guidance systems, a new fire-control system as well as new
missile/ship interfaces. The Mark 2 features a new multipurpose digital computer with increased processing power,
hardware/software enhancements to the seeker to improve both detection and ECCM performance and a new fire-control
system.
The Mark 3 missile will differ externally in having foldable wings, some shaping to reduce the radar cross-section and the
provision of two attachment lugs at the top of the missile. In addition, the former control surface arrangement of two fixed and
two mobile surfaces at the front will be replaced by four moving surfaces at the rear.
Internally there will be significant changes with fully digital autopilot, inertial measurement unit and a wave adaptive
altimeter all from Saab Dynamics, but it will retain the processor of the Mark 2. The hydraulic actuation system in the Mark 1
and Mark 2 will be replaced by an electrical type produced by FHL, and this will provide increased fuel capacity matching that
of the Mark 2. The seeker will also be enhanced and the missile will be capable of manoeuvres up to 8 g.
A major feature of the Mark 3 will be a new GEC Alsthom-designed launcher-container 4.42 m long, 1.2 m wide and 95 cm
high which differs from its predecessors in being of oval cross-section with the missile hanging from the top rather than the
side. A two-container launcher system will weigh approximately 1.5 t and will be 4.5 m long and 1 m wide.
The Mark 3 will feature a substantial increase in range to some 115 n miles (200 km) through the introduction of higher
energy JP-10 standard fuel and new multipurpose onboard processor with most of the functions software based to provide a
product improvement capability. The guidance system will include GPS mid-course update and it will provide flexible
trajectories together with a reattack capability. The high Ku-band (16 to 18 GHz) seeker will be able to select priority targets
when faced with multiple choices and in the terminal phase the missile will be able to fly a sea-skimming straight path of 3-D
manoeuvres with the seeker employing home-on-jam or chaff discrimination against `soft' kill defences. Saab is seeking to
develop a further enhanced seeker with Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) capabilities using frequency-modulated continuous
wave spread-spectrum technology with a few milliwatts of output power.
The shipborne system will feature a new fire-control system, the Missile Engagement Planning System (MEPS), using an
MMI based upon graphics with extensive operator support to assist prelaunch decision making. It is based upon a Sun SPARC
workstation and uses Ada language software with Windows. The MMI consists of a QWERTY keyboard and rollerball. The
operator will be able to set a large number of parameters including salvo size to adjust each missile's trajectory, seeker data and
terminal performance to a specific mission profile in the face of both hard and soft kill threats. The system will then present a
complete engagement plan which the operator can accept or modify. Up to eight missiles can be supported simultaneously. It is
likely that in the long term, new software packages will be produced to meet evolving threats and tactical requirements.
A submarine-launched RBS 15 Mark 3 may be considered by the Swedish Navy, but not until the second decade of the next
century. A submarine-launched land attack version would be launched from a swim-out launcher/container installed in a
special section added to the `Västergötland' class submarines. Saab is currently studying a Pre-Planned Product Improvement,
also designated Mark 3+, with extended range capable of both anti-ship and land-attack roles using a radar/infra-red sensor,
GPS receiver and terrain reference/inertial navigation system and aim-point selection.
A low-probability-of-intercept radar using frequency-modulated continuous wave spread-spectrum technology has already
been developed and tested, and the FMV had inaugurated a study into integrating this with an imaging IR sensor in the lower
part of a stepped nose. In addition, there have been tests to improve the angular resolution and target discrimination of the
seeker through synthetic aperture radar techniques including flying the missile through a turn of more than 20º for 1 to 2
seconds, which has been shown to boost seeker resolution by more than 100 per cent. Proposals considered earlier, and
possibly still under consideration, are a two-way datalink for updating targeting data, the addition of an ESM/ECCM facility,
which would analyse target emitters and jam weapon control radars, and a pre-penetrator warhead for hard targets.
Operational status
In production for Sweden and Finland. Warships using the RBS 15M are listed in the accompanying table.
Country Class Type Missile Launchers/ Weapon Search
type Missiles Control radar
Croatia `Kralj' FC B 4/8 9LV200 BT 502
`Koncar' FAC B 4/4 9LV200 Decca 1226
Finland 1 `Helsinki' FAC SF1 4/4 9LV200 9GR600
`Rauma' FAC SF1 4/8 9LV Mk 3 9GA208
Germany K-130 FC Mk 3 4/8 n/k TRS-3D
Poland² 'Orkan' FC Mk 3 n/k Tacticos n/k
Sweden `Stockholm' FC M2/3 4/8 9LV200 Giraffe 50
`Göteborg' FC M2/3 4/8 9LV Mk 3 Giraffe 150
`Norrköping' FAC M2/3 4/8 9LV200 Giraffe 50
Note: 1 The Finnish missiles are to be upgraded to SF 3 standard.
² RBS 15 Mk 3 has been selected for the upgrading of these corvettes but no orders have yet been placed.
Specifications
Length: 4.35 m
Diameter: 50 cm
Wing span: 1.4 m (unfolded)
Weight: 620/780 kg (without/with boosters); 630/800 kg (without/with boosters in Mk 3)
Speed: In excess of Mach 0.8
Range: In excess of 38 n miles (70 km) (110 n miles or 200 km in Mark 3)
Guidance: Inertial navigation and active radar (Mark 3 plus GPS mid-course update)
Contractor
Saab Bofors Dynamics AB.
UPDATED
Launch of RBS 15 missile from Swedish patrol boat
HSwMS Piteå
An RBS 15M is launched from Finnish FAC Oulu
A diagram showing the internal arrangements of the RBS 15M
A model of the launcher-container system for RBS 15 Mark 3
