– It is a major and important change that will provide the army with a qualitative advantage, says Army Chief Jonny Lindfors, according to Expressen.
The drone swarms can perform autonomous missions such as reconnaissance and surveillance. The technology also enables the drones to carry weapon payloads to attack targets. Defense Minister Pål Jonson highlights the need for innovation within the defense sector to meet today's threats.
– Sweden must be able to face an opponent that is quantitatively superior. Therefore, we must have a qualitative advantage, says Jonson during the press conference in Sälen, according to Expressen.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson emphasized the simplicity of the new technology, which can be controlled using a mobile phone or tablet. AI is used to analyze data from the drones' sensors and to provide accurate information back to the units.
– AI is a big part of this. What the sensors see is analyzed directly to quickly provide information back to the soldier, says Johansson, to SVT.
The drone swarms will be tested during the Arctic Strike 25 exercise. Sweden also participated in last year's exercise, Arctic Strike 24, where autonomous drones from other countries were used as part of experiments within the combat chain. Swedish artillery participated alongside allies, and the technology was used to scout and identify targets using both unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. Army Chief Jonny Lindfors then emphasized a "pragmatic and integrated government collaboration, but also together with industry and universities" to achieve a "high pace in capability building with new technologies," according to an article on the Swedish Armed Forces' website.
The project, which would normally have taken four to five years to complete, has been finished in just one year through intensive collaboration between the Ministry of Defense, Saab, and the Swedish Armed Forces. The Army Chief and the Defense Minister have been personally involved in the process, contributing to the rapid development pace, writes Expressen.
According to Expressen, the experiences from the project will be compiled into a report later this spring. The report will include proposals for regulatory changes to enable faster implementation of technological innovations within the defense sector. The goal is to ensure that Sweden can be at the forefront of technological development and quickly implement new solutions.