Now FMV, together with the Swedish Armed Forces and FOI, is taking decisive steps in building the future capability for combat with unmanned systems, commonly known as drones.
Project Demo Ucav, a high-tech demonstration project for unmanned systems and protection against them, aims to build knowledge, test new technologies and pave the way for next-generation systems and new capabilities within the Swedish Armed Forces.At a time when technological development in the defense sector is moving faster than ever, the joint agency initiative Demo Ucav (unmanned combat aerial vehicle) is an important step in future-proofing Swedens operational capabilities.
The project is being carried out in collaboration between FMV, the Armed Forces, the Swedish Defense Research Institute (FOI), academia, international partners and industry with the aim of exploring and verifying central technologies and capabilities for unmanned systems.UAV 05C Korpen Swedish Armed ForcesThe mission is to build capabilities and ensure interoperability within the unmanned domain and between its constituent disciplines (UAS, C-UAS and Patrol Robot).
This includes organization, method and technology where the project works with autonomous systems, sensor integration, signature adaptation, communication solutions and collaboration with manned platforms.Demo Ucav is not about developing a ready-made operational system, but 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.
We want to ensure that we have the technical and operational lead that is required in an increasingly complex security policy situation,says Johan Pakarinen, project manager at FMV.The project has clear links to both national defense needs and international developments.
An important part of the work is to create a test platform that enables rapid experimentation and evaluation of different technical solutions from AI-based control systems to next-generation sensor systems.Much of the technology development takes place in Ukraine, which has a major impact on our work.
We have a continuous dialogue with our Ukrainian partners and have a good understanding of how the systems are used and developed on the battlefield.
There is a lot to learn from there,adds Pakarinen.Growth in ScopeThe work has been ongoing since 2023 and the project has grown in scope.
Demo Ucav currently involves hundreds of employees from the three agencies.
FMVs role is to coordinate, drive and ensure that the technical capability is developed in line with the needs of the Armed Forces, while the project constitutes an innovation engine for the Swedish defense industry.It is an exciting and challenging project where our collaboration is at the center, together is a central focus.
Through Demo Ucav, we also strengthen Swedens ability to participate in future multinational collaborations on development in the unmanned domain.Parts of the project were demonstrated during the Arctic Strike 25 exercise in lvdalen at the end of March, and trials are underway at several units in the country.Top Photo: UAV OPERATORS ON SNOWMOBILES DURING ARCTIC STRIKE.
PHOTO: SWEDISH ARMED FORCESSource: FMV