Robot 17 (Robotsystem 17) is a Swedish anti-ship missile based on the American AGM-114C Hellfire, further developed by Bofors to work against sea targets and be transported and fired on land.[1]

Robot 17
Robot 17
TypeAnti-ship missile
Place of originSweden
United Kingdom
Service history
In serviceIn active service
Used byUkraine
Sweden
Wars2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerBofors
ManufacturerBofors
Unit cost£25,000 Per Missile
Specifications
MassWeights: 9 kg (20 lb) Warhead
48 kg (106 lb) Total
Length163 cm (64 in)
Width17.8 cm (7.0 in)

Effective firing range8 km (5 mi)

Maximum speed 450 m/s (1,000 mph; Mach 1.3)
Guidance
system
Laser-guided

The system is used by Swedish Amphibious Corps (Amfibiekåren), which uses high-speed boats to transport it between land and islands, after which disembarked soldiers can then quickly position the system and make it ready to fire. By creating a moving and unpredictable threat from anti-ship missiles along the Swedish coast, the Swedish Armed Forces intends to "make it more difficult for an opponent to enter ships in the Swedish archipelago or ports".[2]

In June 2022, Sweden publicly stated their intent to assist Ukraine against Russia's invasion of Ukraine by sending a number of Robot 17.[3][4] In October 2022, evidence appeared on social media suggesting that Ukrainian Ground Forces had started using the weapons in an ad-hoc land attack role.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ edmis4a7. "RBS-17". Anti-Ship Missiles – Missiles – European Defence Equipment. Armed Forces Europe.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Robot 17". Information och fakta. Försvarsmakten.
  3. ^ Nilsson, Maja (June 2, 2022). "Sverige bistår Ukraina med sjömålsroboten Robot 17". Nyheter. SVT.
  4. ^ Ozberk, Tayfun (June 5, 2022). "How Can Swedish RBS-17 Anti-Ship Missiles Help Ukraine?". Naval news.
  5. ^ Helfrich, Emma (22 October 2022). "Ukraine Now Using Donated Hellfire-Based Shore Defense Systems Against Ground Targets". The Drive. Retrieved 22 October 2022.