The Visby Corvettes to Receive Anti-Aircraft Missiles

FMV has signed a contract with MBDA to equip the Navy's Visby corvettes with air defence missiles. The agreement is with the British branch of the defence conglomerate, which will supply the ships with the Sea Ceptor air defence system, utilising a missile called CAMM, Common Anti-air Modular Missiles, according to a press release from the authority and MBDA.

According to the authority, Sea Ceptor is one of the world's leading short-range air defence missile systems for ships. The missile has a range of 25 kilometres and the system can operate in all weather conditions.

– FMV's focus is, and has been, to ensure that the Armed Forces acquire this capability as soon as possible. We have worked intensively and focused together with the supplier MBDA, Saab Kockums, and the Armed Forces to get everything in place, says Per Sundström, project manager for the mid-life modification of the Visby-class corvette at FMV's marine operations area in the authority's press release.

The system will be installed in collaboration between FMV and Saab Kockums. The work, including installation, is set to begin at the end of 2025. The first ship is expected to be delivered to the Navy just over a year later, according to FMV.

FMV and Saab Kockums have jointly conducted a product definition phase for the mid-life modification of the Visby corvettes. This resulted in the selection of MBDA's Sea Ceptor.

The companies are familiar with each other from previous collaborations. Saab and MBDA's German branch have jointly developed the Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile. The Swedish JAS 39 Gripen has utilised the Meteor air-to-air missile, known in Sweden as Robot 101, since 2016, developed through a multinational collaboration led by MBDA UK. Last year, Saab and MBDA conducted a successful Meteor firing with the Gripen E.

– CAMM will provide Sweden and the Navy with an excellent air defence capability and will thereby offer the country a new, strong contribution to NATO alongside other allied Sea Ceptor users, including the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. MBDA is proud to continue building on our long history of partnership with Sweden and Swedish industry, including Saab, says Eric Beranger, CEO of MBDA in the company's press release.