Sweden chooses MBDA’s CAMM missile to equip its corvettes with air defense capability

After its British subsidiary recently finalized a deal worth €4.6 billion with Polska Grupa Zbrojna to produce more than 1,000 Common Anti-Air Modular (CAMM-ER) air defense missiles in Poland Missile – Extended Range) as part of the Polish army’s NAREW program, MBDA has just been notified, on November 16, of a new contract, this time by the Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV – Försvarets Materielverk).

Thus, this contract aims to deliver CAMM surface-to-air missiles for the Sea Ceptor air defense systems (also supplied by MBDA) which will be installed on the five Visby class corvettes of the Royal Swedish Navy on the occasion of their next modernization. The number of missiles and the value of this order were not specified by the manufacturer.

“Sea Ceptor is a latest generation naval anti-aircraft defense system, ensuring excellent self-defense and localized anti-aircraft defense capabilities,” argues MBDA in its press release. And added: “It ensures 360° protection and neutralizes the entire spectrum of threats simultaneously, from supersonic anti-ship missiles to unmanned aircraft, including attack helicopters.”

For its part, the FMV indicated that the installation of Sea Ceptor systems on board Visby-type corvettes will begin towards the end of 2025 and that delivery by Saab Kockums of the first modernized vessel is planned for 2026.

Our “goal is, and always has been, to ensure that the Swedish Armed Forces will have this capability as quickly as possible. We worked intensively with MBDA, Saab Kockums and the Swedish Armed Forces to get everything in place,” argued Per Sundström, project manager for the “medium-term modification” of the Visby-class corvettes.

Note that the Sea Ceptor does not need dedicated tracking or fire control radars as it can work with any modern 3D radar. As for the range of CAMM, it is 25 km

In any case, thanks to this system, the Swedish corvettes will have “the capacity to defend a considerably larger area and to intercept aerial targets over longer distances”, explained the FMV. Currently, they are devoid of air defense means, their armament being limited to a 57 mm Bofors cannon, eight RBS-15 anti-ship missiles, four 400 mm torpedo tubes and naval mines.

“CAMM will provide Sweden and the Royal Swedish Navy with a formidable air defense capability. This will allow Sweden to make a significant new contribution to NATO, alongside other allies using the Sea Ceptor, such as the Royal Navy. We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Sweden and its industry, including with SAAB,” said Éric Béranger, CEO of MBDA.

Moreover, he did not fail to recall the projects carried out in cooperation with Sweden, including the long-range Meteor air-to-air missile, the TAURUS cruise missile and, more recently, the Akeron MP anti-tank missile ( ex-MMP).