# Sweden and Finland lead NATO's communications innovation

- Source: Nordic Defence Sector (https://nordicdefencesector.com)
- Canonical URL: https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation
- Published: 2026-11-05
- Author: Mikael Berg
- Type: News · Section: Cyberspace · Country: international
- Language: en — machine translation from sv; the sv version is authoritative: https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md
- Also available in: de (https://nordicdefencesector.com/de/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md), dk (https://nordicdefencesector.com/dk/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md), es (https://nordicdefencesector.com/es/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md), fi (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fi/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md), fr (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fr/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md), it (https://nordicdefencesector.com/it/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md), no (https://nordicdefencesector.com/no/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md), pl (https://nordicdefencesector.com/pl/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation.md)
- Primary source: https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/kontakt/press-och-media/sverige-och-finland-far-ledande-roll-i-natos/
- Tags: swedish armed forces, finnish defence, nato, nato innovation range, rapid adoption action plan, ericsson, telia, ericsson isac system, northstar, södra skånska regementet, 5g, erillisverkot

> Sweden and Finland will jointly lead NATO's innovation work in connectivity. At a demonstration at Revingehed, 5G was used to detect drones.

![Mobile 5G equipment on an articulated tracked vehicle at the demonstration at Revingehed.](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/774455b1-26e5-4dcd-391a-a0ddbcc4cc00/public)
*Mobile 5G equipment on an articulated tracked vehicle at the demonstration at Revingehed. · Försvarsmakten*

**Sweden and Finland have been tasked with jointly running NATO's innovation work on connectivity through the *NATO Innovation Range*. This was announced by the Swedish Armed Forces on 4 November in connection with a demonstration at Revingehed (southern Sweden), where advanced 5G was used to detect drones. The Swedish Armed Forces' 5G network is being built and operated in cooperation with Telia and Ericsson.**

"Sweden should not only use the communication technology of the future, we should help develop it for NATO's future defence," says Major General Mattias Hanson, Head of Cyber Defence at the Swedish Armed Forces.

According to a [press release from the Swedish Armed Forces](https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/forsvarsmakten/pressreleases/sverige-och-finland-faar-ledande-roll-i-natos-utveckling-av-framtidens-militaera-kommunikation-3476183), the NATO Innovation Range is part of NATO's *Rapid Adoption Action Plan*. The demonstration was carried out at the South Scanian Regiment (P 7), based in southern Sweden, and, according to the Swedish Armed Forces, produced very good results. The drone detection relies on using radio signals and communication infrastructure as radar to detect movement and changes in the surrounding environment.

The nationwide 5G network is intended to be able to reinforce coverage at military bases and be temporarily set up in the field, at unit locations and crisis air bases. 5G equipment is also planned for amphibious craft, frigates and transport aircraft. In the longer term, satellite-based systems are to be integrated. The Swedish Armed Forces are already taking part in Telia and Ericsson's innovation programme *NorthStar*.

Two days before the demonstration, [Ericsson presented](https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2026/11/ericsson-brings-drone-detection-capabilities-to-mobile-networks) its new drone detection system, the Ericsson ISAC System (*Integrated Sensing and Communication*). The system uses the mobile network's radio signals to detect and track drones, including those not connected to the network, and is intended to complement radar and other sensors. According to Ericsson, the system has detected and tracked micro-drones at distances of several kilometres in the company's own tests.

"Detecting small drones over large areas is a growing operational challenge. The ability to use distributed infrastructure as a complement to existing sensors could provide an important additional layer of situational awareness," says Carl Lundqvist, Chief Architect at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, in Ericsson's press release.

Ericsson has, among other things, demonstrated the technology together with Finland's Erillisverkot in Helsinki. The company plans small-scale commercial pilot projects with sensor functionality only during 2027, with broader rollout from 2028.

Sensing, using 5G technology as radar, is one of two new focus areas for Ericsson in defence. This was reported by Joachim Hammersland, Global Head of Solution Area Defence at Ericsson, in an [interview with Nordic Defence Sector](https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/the-proof-is-in-the-pudding-ericsson-back-in-the-defence-segment) in September. The other focus area is tactical, deployable 5G.

"Above all, we are looking at detecting small drones that fly fast and at low altitude," Hammersland said in the interview.

## FAQ

**What does the mission that Sweden and Finland have received within NATO Innovation Range involve?**

Sweden and Finland will jointly lead NATO's innovation work in connectivity through the NATO Innovation Range, which is part of NATO's Rapid Adoption Action Plan. The Swedish Armed Forces announced the mission on 4 November. Major General Mattias Hanson emphasises that Sweden should take part in developing future communication technology for NATO's defence, not merely use it. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

**How was drone detection with 5G demonstrated at Revingehed?**

The demonstration was carried out at the Southern Scania Regiment (P 7) at Revingehed, where advanced 5G was used to detect drones. The technology is based on using radio signals and communication infrastructure as radar to register movements and changes in the surrounding environment. The Swedish Armed Forces state that the results were very good. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

**Which companies is the Swedish Armed Forces collaborating with on the 5G network?**

The Swedish Armed Forces' 5G network is being built and managed in collaboration with Telia and Ericsson. The Armed Forces are also participating in the companies' joint innovation programme, NorthStar. The network is intended to be able to strengthen coverage at military bases and be temporarily deployed in the field, at unit locations, and at crisis airbases. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

**What is the Ericsson ISAC System and how does it work?**

The Ericsson ISAC System, Integrated Sensing and Communication, uses the mobile network's radio signals to detect and track drones, including those not connected to the network. The system is intended to complement radar and other sensors. According to Ericsson's own tests, the system has detected and tracked micro-drones at distances of kilometres. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

**Where does Ericsson plan to test the technology, and when is broader deployment expected?**

Ericsson has demonstrated the technology together with Finland's Erillisverkot in Helsinki and plans small-scale commercial pilot projects with sensor functionality only during 2027. Broader deployment is expected from 2028. The company is focusing in particular on detecting small drones that fly fast and at low altitude. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

---
Nordic Defence Sector — independent newsroom covering the Nordic defence sector. When citing, attribute "Nordic Defence Sector" and link https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/sweden-and-finland-lead-natos-communications-innovation. Site guide: https://nordicdefencesector.com/llms.txt