RBS 58 anti-tank missile to enter Swedish military soon

The first RBS 58 anti-tank missile units are on their way to the Swedish military after the Nordic nation first approached France for the design five years ago.

Designated RBS 58 by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the weapon is derived from the ground-based, medium-range Akeron missile developed by MBDA France. The French Armed Forces have deployed the system since 2017.

Using target information, inertial navigation and an optronic homing system, the robot can hit targets at distances of up to four kilometres. The system enables operations from concealed positions, reducing the risk of detection. Likewise, the FMV claim the weapon is considered jamming-proof.

In a press release, the FMV alluded to the “extensive” development work and cooperation between the two Nato allies, emphasising the weapon’s beyond line of sight (BLOS) capability.

To that end, trials were conducted within the 12th Motorized Rifle Battalion and other unspecified units since 2022.

However, RBS 58 is still largely consistent with the international Akeron MP missile standard. While Akeron is a central weapon within France’s SCORPION land mobility programme, being integrated with the Army’s Jaguar reconnssaince vehicles, RBS 58 will be deployed from Sweden’s CV90 infantry fighting vehicles.

New functionalities

There are joint studies to develop the mutual system in the near future, too. Saab and MBDA are working together implement a “joint capability roadmap” according to a statement from both parties following a bilateral discussion in January 2024.

New functionalities on the horizon will address “future generation of targets.” This likely refers to the proliferating and evolving drone sector, which are said to make up around 80% of casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Other enhancements may come in the form of the missile’s decision-making capability. Last year, France’s Armaments Directorate awarded a contract to MBDA subsidiary, NEODE Systems, to use  the Ground Warden artificial intelligence tool to detect and track targets BLOS faster than a human operator. There may be scope to enhance RBS 58 in the same manner.