Next-generation missile jointly developed and marketed by Saab and Diehl Defence
The ‘big picture’ for anti-ship/anti-surface missiles was clearly changing in recent years, particularly because of the ramp-up of several new programmes to add a land attack capability. For now, obsolescent systems in use with European navies must be upgraded, or replaced with new multi-role systems.
One candidate that fits into the scheme is the GUNGNIR system, Saab’s extended-range member of the RBS15 family. What is crucial for this next-generation missile jointly developed and marketed by Saab and Diehl Defence is that it easily integrates with pre-existing infrastructures, offering operators an all-weather, multi-platform weapon system capable of being launched from surface ships of almost any size, aircraft, and shore locations.
Saab told MONCh that thanks to its J-band active radar target seeker, “the missile offers a high hit probability at sea and ashore in harsh weather conditions with low visibility and in hostile electronic warfare environments where GPS and other support systems are unavailable.”
It has the ability to discriminate and engage surface targets in more complex scenarios than ever before under the most adverse weather conditions, Saab insists. Its combat range was significantly increased to 300km, compared to 200km of the Mk3 variant in use with a number of countries, including Croatia, Germany, and Poland.