Soldiers operate RBS 70 NG short-range air defence system. Credit: Saab.
  • Finland has placed an order for the RBS 70 NG with Sweden-based Saab
  • The deal will cost the Finnish Defence Forces’ logistics Command $126m
  • RBS 70 NG features an unjammable laser-guided missile, an automatic target tracker and built-in night capability

The Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command has placed an order with Saab to acquire RBS 70 NG [new generation] short-range air defence (SHORAD) missile systems.

Valued at Skr1.2bn ($126m), the deal will see the Nordic nation upgrade its existing legacy RBS 70 systems, which Finland has used since 2008. In Finland, the system is referred to as “ITO05” and “ITO05M” (short for Ilmatorjuntaohjus, translated anti-aircraft missile).

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The country is one of 19 nations across five continents operating approximately 1,600 RBS 70 systems to date.

RBS 70 NG first made its public release during the London-based DSEI exhibition in 2011.

A range of new features differentiate the NG variant from the legacy system. The NG capability features an automatic target tracker which assists with target acquisition and tracking, as well as a built-in night capability. 

Soldier uses the new sight capability with automaatic tracker integrated on the NG system. Credit: Saab.

Saab also points to the “unjammable” laser-guided Bolide 2 missile. The prime revealed the new missile in May. The munition has a 50% larger warhead, delivers 40% more fragments, uses enhanced terminal flight performance and a modular design to support future upgrades.

Unlike fire-and-forget systems, the missile remains guided all the way to the target, allowing operators to adjust aim, switch targets or abort an engagement entirely if the situation changes.

Adapting to the UAS threat

“With RBS 70 NG, Finland will receive a state-of-the art short-range air defence capability to effectively meet evolving aerial threats,” said Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s Dynamics business.

To this end, Saab’s enhancements are better suited to the counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) requirement that has come to define contemporary conflict.

Saab reports the the NG variant “proved highly effective” against Russian forces in Ukraine.

Alongside the NG upgrade, the Finnish and Swedish governments entered an agreement to jointly enhance the latter’s ability to to detect and counter drones on 28 August 2026.