Volvo Defense has joined forces with Swedish defense startup Nordic Air Defence to develop a counter-unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) designed specifically for military vehicles. This significant partnership was announced during a defense technology convention in London earlier this week, marking a strategic move towards enhancing aerial threat mitigation for armed forces.
The collaboration will center on a new system named VIPRO, which is anticipated to hit the market in 2026. VIPRO will feature the integration of Nordic’s Kreuger 100XR interceptor onto Volvo’s tactical truck platforms. This setup will enable a pod-based launcher that can effectively engage hostile drones in combat scenarios.
The Kreuger 100XR interceptor boasts an impressive operational range exceeding 3 kilometers (approximately 2 miles) and is equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities for autonomous detection and tracking of aerial threats. Its modular design allows for versatility, permitting deployment not only on land-based platforms but also across vessels and aerial systems.
This initiative comes in response to the increasing threats posed by low-cost tactical unmanned aerial systems (UAS) currently observed in modern warfare. In recent conflicts, notably in Ukraine, inexpensive first-person view drones, often costing under $1,000, have demonstrated their potential to inflict significant damage, destroying tanks, artillery, and even air defense systems. NATO evaluations, alongside open-source intelligence, suggest that these drones are responsible for approximately two-thirds of the losses encountered by Russian vehicle fleets.
The rise of these threats underscores the vulnerability of military logistics, particularly trucks and troop carriers that are crucial for transporting supplies and personnel. In light of this, Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration has made substantial investments, ordering 775 trucks from Volvo and Scania to bolster the capabilities of the armed forces, further emphasizing the reliance on robust transportation systems.
Andreas Svenungsson, President of Volvo Defense, remarked on the importance of innovation in vehicle protection. He stated that such advancements are essential not only for the future of defense but also for maintaining the resilience of transportation and logistics systems that societal infrastructure depends upon. Svenungsson emphasized that through collaborations like the one with Nordic Air Defence, solutions can be accelerated to enhance the safety of both military operations and civilian mobility amid an increasingly complex threat landscape.
