Counter-UAS in 84 days: Saab, FMV and Swedish Air Force test Loke system

Sweden has developed a new counter-UAS system in record time, designed to detect and engage hostile drones. It was developed and successfully tested by the Swedish Air Force (Försvarsmakten), the FMV procurement agency (Försvarets materielverk) and Saab.

As the FMV states in a recent press release, only 84 days passed between the concept phase and the first field tests of the Loke system. The release describes it as flexible and scalable: to adapt to new threats, further sensors and weapon stations can be added. The agency sees it as a “model for future agile defence development”.

How the Loke counter-UAS system is built

Designed to be modular and mobile, Loke covers the complete “kill chain” and is intended as a comprehensive air defence solution:

• State-of-the-art radar systems, including Saab’s proven Giraffe 1X, provide early detection and classification.
• A light, flexible command and control system is based on the SHORAD concept.
• Effectors include the Trackfire remote weapon station, which is used on naval platforms such as the Combat Boat 90, among others.

Concluding its media release, the FMV states: “Loke shows how modern armed forces can create effective solutions to growing drone threats through rapid development, cooperation and agile methods”.