Finnish Navy Declares Gabriel Mk 5 Anti-Ship Missile Fully Operational as SSM 2020

Helsinki, August 2025 – The Finnish Navy has officially introduced the Gabriel Mk 5 anti-ship missile system into operational service, marking a major leap in Finland’s maritime strike capability. In Finnish use, the system is designated as the Surface-to-Surface Missile System 2020 (SSM 2020).

The milestone follows a series of extensive summer exercises, during which naval crews tested and integrated the weapon into combat operations. With trials successfully completed, the missile is now fully operational and deployed across multiple platforms.

Replacing Legacy Missiles

The SSM 2020 replaces the MTO 85M (M85) missile system, which has served the Finnish Navy since the late 1980s and is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Unlike its predecessor, the new system provides Finland with long-range strike options and the flexibility to engage not just enemy warships, but also land-based targets with precision.

Rear Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen, Commander of the Finnish Navy, called the system one of the service’s main weapon systems, alongside naval mines. He emphasized that the missile’s range and sophistication allow Finland to carry out national defense missions independently or as part of allied operations under NATO.

Advanced Features

The Gabriel Mk 5, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is the latest generation in the Gabriel missile family and is also in service with the Israeli Navy. Sometimes referred to as the Advanced Surface Attack Missile (ASAM), it combines advanced electronics with high survivability in contested environments.

Key capabilities include:

• Range of over 200 km, providing wide-area coverage in the Baltic Sea.

• GPS and inertial navigation, combined with an advanced active radar seeker for terminal homing.

• Low radar cross-section design, improving survivability against modern air defenses.

• Ability to strike both moving naval vessels and fixed land targets with high accuracy.

These features give the Finnish Navy a critical edge in the high-threat maritime environment of Northern Europe, where advanced electronic warfare and area denial systems are increasingly common.

Platforms and Deployment

The SSM 2020 will be installed on:

• Hamina-class fast attack craft (modernized under the Squadron 2000 program).

• The future Pohjanmaa-class multi-role corvettes, currently under construction and due to enter service between 2026–2029.

• Mobile coastal defense batteries, giving Finland the ability to launch missiles from land-based platforms for area denial missions.

This multi-platform integration ensures that Finland’s maritime strike capability cannot be neutralized by disabling a single class of vessel, providing both flexibility and survivability.

Strategic Impact

By fielding the SSM 2020, Finland significantly strengthens its deterrence posture in the Baltic Sea, a region marked by heavy military activity and strategic competition. With the country’s formal entry into NATO, the missile system also enhances the alliance’s collective ability to control critical sea lanes and respond to regional threats.

Rear Admiral Tiilikainen noted, “By installing this system on several different platforms, we will achieve combat resistance and wide-area striking power against land and sea targets in the challenging circumstances of the modern battlefield and that of the future.”

Background of Acquisition

Finland selected the Gabriel Mk 5 in 2018 after a competitive evaluation of various Western missile systems, including the U.S. Harpoon and the Norwegian NSM. The decision was based on the missile’s high resilience to electronic countermeasures, adaptability to Finnish geography, and proven track record. Deliveries began in 2022, with integration and training continuing until this summer’s final operational exercises.

The induction of the SSM 2020 Gabriel Mk 5 marks a new era for the Finnish Navy. With long-range precision strike capability against ships and land targets, Finland now fields one of the most advanced anti-ship missile systems in Europe. Its integration across naval and land platforms ensures both survivability and deterrence, strengthening national defense and contributing to NATO’s collective maritime power.