On August 22, 2025, the Finnish Navy officially announced the operational deployment of the Gabriel anti-surface missile, designated domestically as the Surface Defense Missile 2020 (PTO2020). The new weapon has entered service on Hamina-class fast attack missile boats, greatly enhancing Finland’s ability to strike both maritime and land targets. The missile will later be integrated into the under-construction Pohjanmaa-class multi-role corvettes and is also adaptable for land-based mobile launchers, providing a versatile set of deployment options.
The Hamina-class represents the backbone of Finland’s fast attack fleet. First commissioned in the early 2000s, these 51-meter, 250-ton vessels were purpose-built for the shallow and congested waters of the Baltic Sea. Designed for high speed, stealth, and rapid strike capability, the class underwent a major mid-life upgrade between 2018 and 2022, which modernized sensors, combat systems, and weaponry. With the integration of the Gabriel, the Hamina-class now possesses a precision long-range strike capability far beyond its original design, transforming the relatively small ships into formidable assets for coastal defense.
The Gabriel replaces the aging Swedish-made RBS15, which has been in Finnish service for decades. With a range of over 200 kilometers, GPS and inertial navigation guidance, and an advanced active radar seeker, the system delivers high accuracy even in heavily jammed electronic warfare environments. Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the Gabriel missile family has evolved since the 1970s, with Finland’s PTO2020 variant representing one of the most advanced configurations.
