Sweden is making significant strides in its defense capabilities with the advancement of Project Demo UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle). This initiative focuses on developing and testing new advanced unmanned technologies and countermeasures to enhance the operational readiness of the Swedish Armed Forces. A primary goal of this project is to improve interoperability within unmanned aerial systems (UAS), counter-UAS (C-UAS), and patrol robots.
One of the project’s key objectives is to create a test platform that facilitates rapid experimentation and assessment of various technical solutions. This encompasses a multitude of critical focus areas, including autonomous operations, sensor integration, signature management, communication systems, and the synchronization of unmanned platforms with manned assets. The project also prioritizes advancements in AI-based control systems and next-generation sensor technologies.
Launched in 2023, Project Demo UCAV is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), in partnership with the Defence Research Agency, academic institutions, international allies, and industry stakeholders. Johan Pakarinen, the project manager at FMV, emphasized the initiative’s purpose: “Building knowledge and testing future technologies at an early stage. This creates better conditions and saves time when systems are to be acquired and introduced at the Armed Forces units.”
Amid heightened global security concerns, Pakarinen noted the importance of maintaining a technical and operational lead: “We want to ensure that we have the technical and operational lead that is required in an increasingly complex security policy situation.” Elements of the Demo UCAV project were recently showcased during the Arctic Strike 25 exercise, held in Älvdalen, central Sweden. Continuous trials are being conducted at various military units throughout the country.
In addition to the Demo UCAV initiative, Sweden is significantly ramping up its overall defense capabilities. Defense giant Saab recently introduced “Loke,” a modular, scalable, and mobile counter-UAS system that was developed and tested in just 84 days. This unveiling aligns with Sweden’s announcement of a substantial $30 billion defense budget, marking the largest military investment from the country since the Cold War era. The new measure aims to increase Sweden’s military spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP by 2030, up from the current 2.4 percent, as part of its broader strategy to adapt to evolving global threats and meet national security goals.
