Sweden Unveils Drone Swarm System Amid Global Race for Autonomous Military Power
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(Image Credit: Jacky Lee)
In January 2025, the Swedish Armed Forces, in partnership with defense contractor Saab, introduced a drone-swarming program enabling a single operator to manage up to 100 uncrewed aircraft systems simultaneously. The software underwent testing in March 2025 during the Arctic Strike Exercise, where it was assessed for reconnaissance, defense, and payload delivery tasks in complex environments. Recent conflicts in Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East have illustrated the increasing role of coordinated drones in warfare, affecting battlefield outcomes. As NATO’s newest member, Sweden’s work on UAS and swarm technology aligns with a wider movement in military drone development.
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Understanding Drone Swarms: Technology and Function
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, drone swarms involve at least three drones—potentially scaling to thousands—operating cohesively with limited human oversight. These systems use swarm intelligence, modelled on natural patterns like those of ants or birds, where decentralized rules enable coordinated behaviour. Artificial intelligence and machine learning equip the drones to handle challenges such as GPS disruptions, radio interference, and adverse weather, ensuring operational continuity. Control options include preprogrammed routes, centralized ground stations, or real-time communication among drones, providing adaptability in varied conditions.
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Tactical Role: How Swarms Fit into Modern Warfare
Drone swarms offer a cost-effective alternative to conventional weapons like HIMARS rockets or Tomahawk missiles, which carry high per-unit costs. By contrast, swarms of expendable drones enable operations across air, land, and sea, supporting real-time awareness and flexibility. Their capacity to saturate defenses, disrupt networks, and carry out missions with precision—while tolerating losses—enhances their utility in combat. This approach adjusts the economic and operational framework of military engagements.
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Global Efforts in Drone Swarm Development
United States Pursues Large-Scale Deployment: The U.S. Pentagon’s Replicator program aims to field thousands of low-cost, autonomous drones by August 2025. Allocated US$500 million for Fiscal Year 2024, with additional funding proposed for 2025, it prioritizes technologies like Autonomous Collaborative Teaming (ACT) and Opportunistic Resilient Network Topology (ORIENT) for coordination. The Perdix System, active since 2016 and developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory, has produced over 670 drones and been tested with F/A-18 jets, advancing swarm functionality.
China Displays Long-Range Swarm Platform: In November 2024, China introduced the Jiu Tian “mothership” drone at the Zhuhai Airshow. This 10-ton UAV, with a 1,200-mile range and speeds up to 560 mph, can deploy smaller swarms. Larger than the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, it features a modular design, expanding China’s drone capabilities.
Europe Tests Integrated Systems: Germany’s KITU 2 program, initiated by the Bundeswehr in July 2023, incorporates AI-driven swarm operations, with tests in August 2023 conducted without GPS. In September 2024, Quantum Systems and the German Armed Forces tested AI-controlled UAS at the Airbus Drone Centre in Bavaria, linking reconnaissance data to battle management systems. The United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, in July 2023, contracted SeeByte and Blue Bear to develop Mixed Multi-Domain Swarms, following AUKUS trials in May 2024 that tested swarm coordination in combat. The Netherlands’ Project Steadfast, funded with €2.7 million in February 2024, examines swarm technology for security purposes.
Ukraine and Turkiye Employ Drone Tactics: Ukraine has used FPV, FlyEye, and Granat-2 drones in coordinated strikes, though these require individual pilots rather than autonomous swarm control. Turkiye’s Kargu-2 drones, developed by STM since 2020, operate in groups of up to 20. These 15-pound multicopters, designed for precision strikes, return to base if no target is found, differing from single-use systems like the U.S. Switchblade.
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Defensive Obstacles: Addressing Swarm Threats
Countering drone swarms presents challenges due to their numbers and adaptability. A single IRIS-T missile, costing over US$450,000, far exceeds the US$20,000 price of a Shahed-136 drone, creating an economic imbalance in defense efforts. Proposed solutions include electronic jamming, high-energy lasers, and microwave systems like the U.S. Marine Corps’ L-MADIS, though these remain in early stages of deployment. This disparity highlights the difficulty of matching traditional defenses to swarm tactics.
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Source: DSM
