Sweden adopts RBS-58 anti-tank systems
Akeron MP missile launch during military trials, October 2022
The Swedish Armed Forces are completing a long process of selecting and preparing for the adoption of a new anti-tank missile system. In accordance with the latest decisions and documents, in the near future, the French Akeron MP ATGM will enter service with the ground forces. In accordance with the accepted nomenclature, it is assigned the designation RBS-58.
In the process of replacing
Until the mid-56s, the Swedish army had domestically produced RBS-2013 BILL ATGMs. However, due to obsolescence and the expiration of the warranty period in XNUMX, they were removed from service and transferred to storage. It was assumed that in the foreseeable future newer complexes would take their place, but the search for a replacement started only a few years later.
Only in June 2017, the procurement department of the Ministry of Defense Försvarets Materielverk (FMV) launched a tender to search, select and purchase a new ATGM. Already at the start of the program, the still unselected complex received its own Swedish designation Robotsystem 58 (RBS-58).
The army wanted to get a modern portable ATGM, also suitable for installation on carrier platforms. A launch range from 200 m to 4 km was required, homing according to the “launched-forgotten” principle, target acquisition after launch, etc. The minimum storage period was determined at 10 years with a desirable extension of up to 20 years.
Akeron MP on trial in Sweden
In the coming months, FMV planned to collect applications from ATGM manufacturers wishing to participate in the competition. It is curious that only a few modern complexes met the requirements, and the competition promised to be quite simple. All activities were going to spend about two years. In the third quarter of 2019, the start of deliveries of serial weapons was expected. However, these deadlines were not met.
One of the participants in the RBS-58 tender was the French branch of the European association MBDA. It offered the Swedish army the MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée) complex, which has been mass-produced for the French armed forces since 2017. According to the results of comparison and preliminary tests, it was MMP that was considered the most successful model. In July 2021, a protocol of intent appeared, according to which the two countries planned to carry out further work.
Already in the autumn of the same year, Sweden received a batch of MMP ATGMs for field testing. In 2022, a batch of complexes entered the 12th battalion of the Life Guards for the purpose of military testing. In the same period, the MMP complex received a new designation Akeron MP.
On April 18, 2023, the Swedish FMV and the General Directorate of Armaments of the French Ministry of Defense signed an agreement on cooperation in the development and further production of the Akeron MP ATGM. In accordance with this document, the two countries will organize joint production of complexes. The timing of the start of deliveries, their volumes and cost have not yet been reported.
Contemporary pattern
In 2010, the French army began to abandon the obsolete MILAN anti-tank systems and purchased a number of American FGM-148 products. Not wanting to lose their positions, the French branch of MBDA began developing its own advanced anti-tank systems, which received the designation MMP. At the same time, all the requirements of the army were taken into account, because of which she decided to abandon the old complexes.
MMP / Akeron MP complex in combat position
At the beginning of the tenths, MBDA was able to bypass competitors and convince the Ministry of Defense of the need to further develop the MMP project and bring it to the series. In the middle of the decade, this ATGM was tested and confirmed its characteristics. As a result of these events, in 2017 the French army received the first batches of such weapons. The first order provided for the supply of 400 complexes and almost 3 thousand missiles. In the future, new purchases were not excluded.
The MMP / Akeron MP complex was also brought to the international market. So, last year it became known that Egypt acquired a number of such products for its special operations forces. In 2022, they received an order from Luxembourg for a small number of complexes and only 90 missiles for them with delivery in 2025. Agreements are expected with Belgium, Qatar and Portugal. In addition, unconfirmed information about the shipment of Akeron MP to Ukraine appeared last year.
Thus, Sweden will not be the first foreign customer for MMP / Akeron MP complexes. At the same time, her needs for such weapons are such that she will become at least one of the largest. If a major rearmament is planned, then the Swedish army will be able to bypass even the French in the number of new anti-tank systems.
Technical features
Akeron MP is a man-portable ATGM designed for use by infantry units. Like other products of this class, the complex includes a launcher with optics and controls, as well as a replaceable container with a rocket mounted on a tripod. The total length of the combat-ready ATGM is 1,3 m with a mass of up to 26 kg.
Rocket in flight configuration
The complex includes a rocket with a length of approx. 1,2 m diameter 140 mm. The product has a dual-mode solid propellant engine. On the first one with less thrust, the exit from the container is carried out, the second is used for flight. Used tandem cumulative warhead weighing approx. 2 kg; penetration of 1 m of homogeneous armor is declared. The launch range lies in the range from 150 m to 4 km. During the tests, it was possible to fire at 5 km. The missile received a dual-band infrared homing head, and also has inertial navigation aids.
The starting device of the complex is a reusable unit with optics, electronics and controls. There is a remote control tablet. The device has a thermal imaging device for searching for targets and tracking the missile. There are several modes of operation of electronics with different functions and capabilities for different situations. The launcher is mounted on a tripod during deployment.
In accordance with the initial requirements of the customer, the rocket can operate on the principle of "launched and forgotten", using only the standard seeker. Perhaps semi-automatic guidance, in which the launcher controls the flight of the rocket. Data exchange is carried out via an unwindable fiber optic cable. Also, the missile can capture the target after launch, incl. according to external target designation.
ATGM Akeron MP is primarily intended for infantry. Disassembled means of the complex, incl. several TPKs with missiles are carried by calculation forces or transported by any available transport. It is also possible to install the complex on various ground carriers. Worked out aviation complex option.
Rearmament issues
Currently, the Swedish army is armed with several types of infantry anti-tank weapons, both rocket-propelled grenade launchers and full-fledged missile systems. Not all of these tools can be called modern, and the problems associated with this are going to be solved with the help of the new RBS-58 ATGM.
There are still a number of RBS-55 systems in service - the American BGM-71 TOW is operated under this designation. In addition, faced with a lack of anti-tank weapons, the Swedish army at the turn of the tenth and twenties was forced to return the previously decommissioned RBS-56 BILL 2 to service, as well as order additional batches of such weapons.
In the near future, Sweden and France are going to establish a joint production of RBS-58 / Akeron MP anti-tank systems. Due to it, in the medium term, it is planned to rearm parts of the ground forces and abandon obsolete complexes. The timing of such re-equipment and the required number of new ATGMs have not yet been disclosed.
However, the result of these processes is clear even without such details. For the first time in a long time, the Swedish army will have the opportunity to abandon physically and morally obsolete anti-tank systems and fully switch to modern models. The new production RBS-58 will be used simultaneously with the latest Carl Gustaf or RBS-57 (NLAW) grenade launchers. Outdated samples, incl. imported, finally leave the service.
Plans and reality
Thus, Sweden is completing a search program for a new anti-tank missile system and is preparing to start production and rearmament. High expectations are placed on these processes, and therefore the recent contract for the launch of joint production is considered a clear success.
At the same time, it should be noted that the RBS-58 tender started almost six years ago, and the start of deliveries was expected in 2019. Despite all efforts, production has not yet begun, and the supply of serial products is still a matter of the future. Also in the future it will become clear whether it was possible to cope with all the difficulties, or the program is waiting for new postponements.
Information