Swedish Army Enhances Defense with Cutting-Edge Sci-Fi Technology: What You Need to Know

Last month, Sweden revealed an exciting new “drone swarm” technology created by its armed forces in collaboration with the Swedish company Saab. Defense Minister Paul Johnson announced that this innovative technology will enhance the reconnaissance and surveillance abilities of Swedish ground and air forces.

During a recent press conference, a military official noted that the Swedish army is eager to test this technology during the upcoming Arctic Strike exercises this spring. He emphasized the need for quick advancements in defense capabilities.

“We need to take some risks to strengthen our defense faster than usual,” he stated.

This drone swarm technology allows for effective reconnaissance and the identification of targets. It can operate over long roads hidden in dense forests, sending back images and autonomously returning to base for recharging.

Sweden plans to raise its defense spending to 2.6% of its GDP by 2028, a slight increase from 2.2% in 2024. This is quite different from the U.S. goal for European NATO allies, which is to allocate at least 5% of their GDP to defense.

Notably, the Army Commander and the Minister of Defense were directly involved in this secret project. The technology itself is a kind of software that allows a single operator to oversee swarms of hundreds of drones.

A video shared by Defense News showcases a group of 10 quadcopters taking off and relaying their flight path over snowy forests. The voice-over explains that high-resolution images and real-time AI analysis provide commanders on the ground with immediate and actionable information.

Saab, along with various military and defense agencies in Sweden, developed this technology to guide drones weighing up to 25 kg. One operator can control hundreds of UAVs, which can independently perform tasks like searching and observing enemy locations. The drones in the swarm can assign tasks to each other, recharge, and focus on their missions autonomously.

This isn’t Saab’s first foray into drone technology. In 2024, they introduced their Autonomous Swarm system in the USA, using AI to manage swarms of drones with minimal human input.

Other countries, including those in the AUKUS alliance (Australia, the UK, and the U.S.), have also explored similar drone technologies.

The AI from the UK-based company BlueBear was acquired by Saab in 2023. This AI enables one operator to manage diverse swarms of autonomous drones. While Saab doesn’t produce UAVs themselves, they are collaborating with Swedish agencies to develop comprehensive control software.

“Individual drones in the swarm come with various sensors and communication tools. The operator can assign tasks to different groups of drones using a mobile phone,” a Saab representative shared.

Remarkably, this technology was developed quickly, attracting interest from other NATO countries. Some experts are already calling it “sci-fi technology.”

Recently, Sweden joined a naval patrol mission in the Baltic Sea after incidents of sabotage against underwater infrastructure. This initiative, known as the Baltic Sentry mission, aims to protect essential seabed cables damaged over the past year. NATO plans to increase patrols in the area, deploying additional warships, aircraft, and drones.

In February 2024, Sweden also signed a contract with French company Parrot for small UAVs intended for reconnaissance missions.

Using large numbers of UAVs in military operations is becoming more common as countries around the world explore their potential and challenges. Ukrainian defense expert Natalia Kushnerskaya recently pointed out that improving drone swarm tactics is a priority for Ukraine in 2025.

“Ukrainian drone units are moving beyond the ‘one drone – one operator’ model and plan to adopt drone swarms this year,” she stated.

The main challenge with these UAV “swarms” is that they typically consist of smaller drones with limited flight times of around 30 minutes. However, this compact design has its advantages; swarms can overwhelm air defense systems, distracting them from more pressing threats like missiles.

According to Swedish developers, their new technology not only conducts reconnaissance but also ensures reliable communication, even amidst heavy electronic interference.

With keen interest from Ukrainian experts, Sweden’s drone technology could play a crucial role in modern military strategies. The current conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the vital role of drones in military operations, prompting many nations to boost their investments in unmanned technologies.

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