Drone warfare has taken on a central role in both Ukraine's defense and Russia's offensive war, demonstrating how modern warfare is rapidly evolving.
This is one of the reasons why the government, according to the Minister of Defense, has decided to invest just over four billion to purchase unmanned systems for the Swedish Armed Forces' combat units.
"The battlefield of the future will be increasingly characterized by unmanned systems and long-range combat. Anyone who does not heed this will be dead or outgunned," says Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M) at the People and Defense National Conference in Sälen.
Kamikaze drone
The investment includes patrol robots, which are armed drones also known as kamikaze drones that can attack targets on the ground. The Armed Forces will now purchase thousands of patrol robots, which is important for increasing drone capabilities in many military units.
They have long-range capability to attack attackers who attack us, says Jonson.
Patrol robots will be able to strike targets inside Russia.
We have learned a lot from Ukraine, says Jonson.
The initiative also involves purchasing reconnaissance drones and drones that will be equipped with telewar capabilities.
The initiative also includes marine drones, which will be able to operate both above and below the water surface. They can be used to search for mines and scout the seabed, and as surface vehicles to monitor large areas of the sea.
Required quantities
Although drones are relatively cheap weapons, the war in Ukraine has shown that large quantities are required. The Armed Forces' need for drones in war can be counted in the millions, but the Armed Forces want to avoid storing large quantities in advance for several years as the technology is constantly developing.
The new investment in drones is financed within already agreed budget frameworks for defense in the coming years.
