The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) is preparing a pre-commercial procurement of small unmanned ground vehicles. The initiative is being carried out as a pilot within the framework of the Innovation Programme for Civil-Military Synergies (CMIP) and aims to stimulate the development of new solutions not yet available on the market, as well as to develop methods for defence procurement.
FMV is seeking technical concepts that can be adapted for military use and lead to prototypes demonstrated in a relevant environment for the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten). The focus is on small unmanned ground systems, UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles), where demand has increased as modern conflicts place greater requirements on autonomous and unmanned solutions, as announced by FMV in a press release.
The goal is to develop lightweight UGVs with a maximum weight of 500 kilograms. According to FMV, the systems must be cost-effective and built on an open system architecture, enabling continuous upgrades of functions, sensors, and software.
The procurement focuses in particular on platform adaptability, costs, cross-country mobility, and improved operator support. The vision is for systems that can be used across a variety of mission types, including logistics and reconnaissance, even in demanding environments with limited communications.