Group : Local Air Defenses
Status : Retired - No Longer Operational
Origin : Sweden
Contractors : Ericsson, Saab
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2004
Total Production : ?

The BAMSE is a short range air defense system designed for the protection of military facilities, ground forces and high value infrastructures. The BAMSE is intended against very small and fast targets such as attack missiles, anti-radiation missiles, UAVs and cruise missiles. It can also engage high altitude flying targets. It features protection against nuclear, biological and chemical agents (NBC) and can be transported by C-130 sized aircraft.

The BAMSE air defense system consists of a Surveillance and Control Centre (SCC) and 3 Missile Control Centers (MCC). The SCC comprises an Ericsson Giraffe 3D surveillance radar with an antenna mast of 8/13 meters. The SCC can coordinate up to 4 MCC. The MCC trailer are located up to 20 km away from the SCC and interconnected via a cable or radio communications. The MCC comprises a Ka-band fire control radar with a 8 meters mast, IRST (infrared sensor for surveillance and tracking), IFF, 6 ready-to-fire BAMSE missiles, and weather sensors. The complete reload of a MCC takes less than 4 minutes.

The BAMSE air defense system has a built-in simulation capability to carry out training. The MCC trailer depends on transportation vehicles which also carry additional missiles for reloading operations. The Sweden government ordered the RBS23 in 2000 and deliveries started in 2002. The system is only deployed as a demonstrator not being part of Swedish Army operational organization.