According to FOI, the exercise is part of a growing concept inspired by the American "Project Convergence", where research, defense, and industry collaborate to quickly test and integrate new technology. The theme for the year was "any sensor to any shooter" in a subarctic environment.
One of the most noted moments was the demonstration of Swedish drone swarm technology – a capability developed in one year through collaboration between the Armed Forces, FMV, FOI, the Ministry of Defense, and Saab. The technology allows a single operator to control up to one hundred drones from a mobile platform and integrates AI-based analysis in real-time.
The technology was presented by Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M), Army Chief Jonny Lindfors, and Saab's CEO Micael Johansson at a press conference during Folk och Försvar in Sälen and was shown publicly for the first time in Älvdalen.
From the Norwegian side, participants included FFI, the Army, and industry partners such as Kongsberg, Squarehead, and Triangula. The Norwegian contribution included an unmanned ground vehicle equipped with "drone radar" and weapon systems to shoot down hostile UASs. In one scenario, sound sensors from Squarehead and Triangula were used to locate artillery, which was then countered by Finnish mortars.
– Arctic Strike is an example of how we become stronger by developing, innovating, and experimenting together, says Norway's Army Chief Lars Lervik in FFI's press release.
Commander-in-Chief Michael Claesson also commented on the exercise in a post on X: – Very good setup. Thanks to the Army for an excellent initiative that moves us forward in development issues.
The exercise was conducted by the Army Staff in collaboration with, among others, the Armed Forces, FMV, FOI, Norwegian FFI, and several different defense companies. According to the organizers, the goal is to increase the pace of technology development, improve interoperability, and shorten lead times for the introduction of new systems.
– The development of commercial technology is leading in several segments, and we try to leverage this advantage by finding military applications to shorten lead times and keep costs down says Andreas Ziegenfeldt, the Army's development chief, and continues: Sometimes we have to admit that someone else has already solved the problems and that their solution is considered good enough under the current circumstances.