Sweden is advancing Project Demo UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) to develop and test new advanced unmanned technologies and countermeasures.
The initiative aims to strengthen the Swedish Armed Forces’ capabilities and enhance interoperability across unmanned aerial systems (UAS), counter-UAS (C-UAS), and patrol robots.
A key objective is establishing a test platform for rapid experimentation and assessment of various technical solutions.
Areas of focus include autonomous operations, sensor integration, signature management, communication systems, and coordination with manned platforms.
Other priorities range from AI-based control systems to next-generation sensor systems.
Established in 2023, the project is a joint effort led by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in cooperation with the Defence Research Agency, academic institutions, international partners, and industry.
Demo UCAV is about “building knowledge and testing future technologies at an early stage. This creates better conditions and saves time when systems are to be acquired and introduced at the Armed Forces units,” said Johan Pakarinen, project manager at FMV.
“We want to ensure that we have the technical and operational lead that is required in an increasingly complex security policy situation,” added Pakarinen.
Elements of the project were demonstrated during the Arctic Strike 25 exercise in Älvdalen, central Sweden in late March, with ongoing trials taking place at multiple units across Sweden.
Strengthening Defense
Sweden is ramping up its defense capabilities to meet national security goals and adapt to evolving global threats.
As part of this effort, Swedish defense giant Saab introduced the “Loke,” a modular, scalable, and mobile counter-UAS system developed and tested in just 84 days.
The unveiling follows Sweden’s announcement of a $30-billion defense budget—the country’s largest military investment since the Cold War.
The measure aims to increase the country’s military budget to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2030, up from the current 2.4 percent.
