Sweden orders lightweight torpedoes from Saab

Defense company Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the delivery of Saab lightweight torpedoes (SLWT) and torpedo tubes.

The SLWT, designated Torped 47 by the Swedish Armed Forces, is a light torpedo system designed to enhance Sweden’s ability to detect and counter underwater threats in the Baltic Sea.

The torpedo is intended for use from submarines and surface vessels and has also been prepared for potential integration with helicopter platforms in the future.

The latest order includes not only the torpedoes themselves but also torpedo tubes, spare parts, training equipment, and technical support services. According to Saab, this comprehensive package is part of a broader initiative to ensure operational readiness and technical sustainability over the life of the system.

The Baltic Sea presents a particularly complex environment for naval operations, with shallow waters, irregular seabeds, and dense maritime traffic. These conditions complicate submarine detection and tracking. The environment places high demands on the locating and identification of submarines, as well as on navigation and communication by the torpedo.

In response, the Torped 47 system has been developed with features tailored to operate effectively in such an environment.

“We are proud to continue to support Sweden in its efforts to modernise underwater weapon systems in order to protect the Baltic Sea region. This state-of-the-art system is providing the Swedish Armed Forces with increased capabilities, including torpedoes, spare parts, training systems, and technical support,” said Mats Wicksell, Head of Saab’s business area Kockums.

The contract is valued at approximately SEK 1.3 billion (around 121 million), with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026.

This marks the second time Sweden has ordered the SLWT system, following a previous contract signed in 2016 and deliveries that commenced in 2022.

Recently, Saab and FMV tested the new lightweight torpedo system, the Torpedo 47, on a temporary platform. The test firing at sea was conducted on a combat boat 90 (CB90), a fast military assault craft developed by Swedish shipyard Dockstavarvet, a part of Saab.

The test firings showed that this combination of weapon system and platform fits together very well. In particular, the results show that the Torpedo 47 weapon system works well even with smaller platforms than the system is traditionally developed for, according to FMV.