Robot 17 (Robotsystem 17) is a Swedish
anti-ship missile
An anti-ship missile (AShM or ASM) is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. ...
based on the American
AGM-114C Hellfire, further developed by
Bofors
AB Bofors ( , , ) is a former Swedish arms manufacturer which today is part of the British arms manufacturer BAE Systems. The name has been associated with the iron industry and artillery manufacturing for more than 350 years.
History
Locate ...
to work against sea targets and be transported and fired on land.
The system is used by
Swedish Amphibious Corps
The Amphibious Corps (, Amf) is the Marines, marine infantry arm of the Swedish Navy, with an emphasis on coastal defence. It has its roots in the Swedish Coastal Artillery, coastal artillery (, KA) but after the end of the Cold War it was seen as ...
(''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
The Swedish Armed Forces (, literally ''Defence Force'') are the Military, armed forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. It consists of four separate military branches, the Swedish Army, the Swedish Navy, the Swedish Air Force and the Home Guard (Swed ...
intends to "make it more difficult for an opponent to enter ships in the Swedish archipelago or ports".
In June 2022, Sweden publicly stated their intent to assist Ukraine against
Russia's invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
by sending a number of Robot 17. In October 2022, evidence appeared on social media suggesting that
Ukrainian Ground Forces
The Ukrainian Ground Forces (SVZSU, ), also referred to as the Ukrainian army, is a land force, and one of the eight Military branch, branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was formed from Ukrainian units of the Soviet Army after Declaratio ...
had started using the weapons in an ad-hoc land attack role.
References
{{reflist
Rb 17
Post–Cold War weapons of Sweden