Saab’s New Coastal Defense System Built on RBS15 Missile Targets Growing Maritime Threats.

Sweden’s Saab has unveiled a next-generation Coastal Defense Missile System built around its proven RBS15 anti-ship missile. The new platform delivers mobile, scalable maritime protection at a time of expanding naval challenges and regional instability.

Swedish Company Saab has introduced a new evolution of its Coastal Defense Missile System (CDMS), a shore-based anti-ship platform engineered around the combat-proven RBS15 missile family. The mobile and modular system enables coastal forces to deter naval incursions with rapid-deployment capabilities and precision strike range exceeding 200 kilometers. Saab said the upgrade reflects growing international demand for adaptable maritime denial systems as nations face tighter budgets and rising regional tensions.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Saab’s new Coastal Defence Missile System (CDMS) combines the proven RBS15 anti-ship missile with a mobile land-based launcher, offering over 300 km strike range, rapid shoot-and-scoot capability, and modular containerized design for agile coastal protection. (Picture source: SAAB)

Unlike traditional naval deterrence strategies that rely heavily on surface combatants, the CDMS shifts control of the sea back to the shore. Saab’s engineers have reimagined the RBS15 system into a highly mobile, containerized missile platform capable of hitting maritime targets at ranges exceeding 300 kilometers. Built to integrate with the RBS15 Mk3 and the upcoming Mk4, the system provides a fire-and-forget, all-weather strike capability that allows operators to engage hostile vessels from deep inland positions.

At its technical core, each CDMS launcher vehicle carries four RBS15 missiles mounted within a launcher unit matching the footprint of a 20-foot ISO-standard shipping container. This standardized configuration not only enhances deployability but also allows for discreet concealment and rapid relocation. Saab engineers emphasize the two-minute shoot-and-scoot cycle – from firing to displacement – which ensures survivability against counter-battery fire. Each launcher features a self-contained hydraulic power generator and onboard control systems, allowing the crew to operate from inside the vehicle or remotely via tethered control stations.

The battery-level architecture consists of multiple launcher vehicles linked to a mobile command post that serves as the brain of the operation. This command node integrates with existing sensor networks – airborne surveillance platforms, naval radars, drones, and shore-based sensors – to generate precise targeting solutions. Saab also proposes dedicated sensor vehicles capable of local radar tracking and battle damage assessment, supported by logistics trucks equipped with cranes to reload expended missile canisters in as little as 15 minutes.

What makes the CDMS concept strategically disruptive is its operational agility and cost-efficiency. Saab asserts that a handful of CDMS batteries could secure hundreds of kilometers of coastline, giving nations a credible maritime strike capability for a fraction of the cost of a surface combatant. The silent operational mode of each launcher – completely passive until launch – adds a stealth element that complicates enemy reconnaissance and targeting.

The RBS15 Mk3 currently offers a range of more than 200 kilometers, while the forthcoming RBS15 Mk4, scheduled for operational delivery in the late 2020s, extends the reach beyond 300 kilometers. Both variants maintain a sea-skimming, high-subsonic flight profile, making them extremely difficult to intercept. The Mk4 introduces enhanced software-defined guidance and improved resistance to electronic countermeasures, coupled with an upgraded high-explosive warhead capable of delivering one-hit kills against large surface combatants.

Saab’s engineers also highlight the dual-role capability of the RBS15, with both the Mk3 and Mk4 offering secondary land-attack functions, a feature increasingly sought after by coastal defense forces aiming for operational flexibility.

Beyond the shore-based configuration, Saab is testing the CDMS as a modular naval solution. Using standard container interfaces, ships without permanently installed anti-ship systems can be converted into missile platforms within hours, a concept being explored for multi-purpose vessels (MPVs) and auxiliary fleets. This approach mirrors the growing military trend toward modularity and mission-tailored packages, enabling navies to scale firepower based on evolving threat environments.

With the Swedish Armed Forces already placing orders, Saab is actively marketing the system to additional European and Indo-Pacific customers. The company’s pitch is strengthened by interoperability: the RBS15 is already fielded by Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, and Croatia, effectively creating a shared anti-ship ecosystem across NATO’s northern and eastern flanks. Saab officials note that this networked deterrent transforms the Baltic Sea into a high-risk operating zone for adversary navies, providing collective security through technological standardization.

In essence, Saab’s new Coastal Defence Missile System represents a strategic pivot toward affordable maritime denial, empowering nations to project deterrence from the coastline without relying on expensive fleets. For smaller and medium-sized powers, the CDMS offers not just a missile battery, but a sovereign capability to command the littoral battlespace, blending mobility, survivability, and reach in a single modular platform.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.