Sweden’s navy is advancing the stealth and automation capabilities of its Visby-class corvettes through the development and testing of a robotic weapons-hatch system intended to conceal and deploy armaments without compromising the ship’s low observable characteristics. The Visby family’s design philosophy relies heavily on hidden weapons to reduce radar cross section; the new hatch system provides a mechanically robust and repeatable interface that preserves that signature while enabling future automation, most notably the planned Robot 15 missile system. Engineers from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), together with Saab Dynamics and Svekon and in close coordination with the Naval Staff, have completed load testing using a robotic surrogate to validate structural strength and operational durability. The tests confirmed the hatch’s capacity to withstand operational stresses, an essential milestone for moving toward an automated launch and handling chain on a vessel where payload concealment is a key survivability measure. Work is scheduled as a phased rollout through to 2030, giving the navy time to integrate command-and-control, targeting, and safety interlocks while preserving the Visby’s stealth envelope. Beyond the hatch itself, Sweden’s naval force is pursuing a wider modernization program across multiple platforms. The Gotland-class submarines have undergone significant mid-life upgrades—including new sensors, refreshed combat systems, and improvements to their air-independent propulsion systems—which extend submerged endurance and bolster acoustic stealth. HMS Halland, the final boat in that upgrade series, re-entered service in February 2025 after replacing more than 20 critical systems. Complementing undersea upgrades, Stockholm is refreshing coastal strike and networked command capabilities. Truck-mounted RBS15 Mk3 launchers are being introduced to modernize anti-ship defenses, with deliveries slated to commence in 2026. Simultaneously, the navy has been field-testing advanced, networked command-and-control architectures across its surface fleet to improve shared situational awareness and coordinated responses during complex operations. Taken together, the robotic hatch initiative and parallel platform upgrades reflect a coherent Swedish strategy: maintain low observability, increase automation where it enhances survivability, and bind sensors, shooters and decision nodes into a resilient, networked maritime force optimized for Baltic and North Atlantic operations.
