Σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες του navaldefence.gr και του flight.com.gr, το ΥΠΕΘΑ μέσω ΓΕΕΘΑ έχει ζητήσει να ενταχθεί στον ευρωπαϊκό μηχανισμό χρηματοδότησης, SAFE, πρόγραμμα για απόκτηση νέας γενιάς αντιπλοικών πυραύλων RBS-15. Με κύριο αντικείμενο την έκδοση Mk4 Gungnir και με άμεσο ενδιαφέρον και...
flight.com.gr
According to information from navaldefence.gr and flight.com.gr, the Ministry of National Defense, through the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, has requested to join the European funding mechanism, SAFE, a program for the acquisition of a new generation of RBS-15 anti-ship missiles. With the main objective of the Mk4 Gungnir version and with direct interest in the latest generation Mk3. This is a development of particular importance, as it combines a low financial footprint, immediate availability and enormous operational results, in a period where the replacement of the old Harpoon is an urgent need, especially in view of the acquisition of the Bergamini-class frigates.
The RBS-15 Mk3 and Mk4 constitute a European family of anti-ship missiles that simultaneously covers use by surface ships, aircraft and coastal batteries, enabling common stocks and a unified philosophy of use. Participation in SAFE allows the Hellenic Navy to operate within a total budget of around 100 million euros, securing a number of missiles that would be impossible in a national program, while at the same time creating “surplus capabilities” to cover not only frigates but also other sectors.
The
RBS-15 Mk3 is a fully mature and proven weapon, with operational presence in several European navies. It has a large warhead of approximately 200 kg
and is designed with the logic of destroying a large surface ship with a single hit. The
one shot one kill philosophy is not theoretical, but the result of a combination of a heavy warhead, an extremely low altitude flight profile and high resistance to interference.
The missile can operate without reliance on GPS (in the latest version it shares electronics with the Mk4), utilizing inertial navigation, and the active radar seeker in the final stage, something critical in an environment of intense electronic warfare such as the Aegean.
The next version, the
Mk4 Gungnir, is the evolution of this philosophy. Its main advantage is the
range that exceeds 300 kilometers, where the
flight takes place entirely at an extremely low altitude, in a sea skimming profile, from launch to the final attack. This makes it extremely difficult to detect and even more difficult to intercept, especially in a saturated environment where enemy units will be approaching threats from everywhere at the same time.
The weapon is also designed to be able to navigate with great precision, without the use of GPS. While it maintains the same heavy warhead as the Mk3, so a successful hit is sufficient to neutralize a modern frigate.
The good price per missile, combined with the financing and economies of scale of SAFE, turns the RBS-15 into an ideal tool for "locking" the Aegean. So we are talking about a weapon that can control sea lanes at distances that until recently were considered prohibitive, without requiring expensive platforms or complex support solutions. The ability to be used as a coastal artillery weapon further multiplies its value, creating a network of interdiction for the enemy, from sea, air and land.
If the participation of the Hellenic Navy in SAFE ultimately leads to a signature for the RBS-15 Mk3 and especially Mk4, we will be talking about one of the most substantial moves to strengthen the country's naval power in recent years. It should be noted that the weapon is carried by the Swedish Saab Gripen, but in Greek service it may be armed by the Hellenic Air Force's F-16V. On a political level, such a development can rightly be presented as the first success of the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense with regard to SAFE, as it will utilize a European tool to fill a critical defense gap.