Drone traffic management for all of Sweden: LFV awards Frequentis contract for UTM platform

Sweden is getting its first nationwide drone traffic management: Swedish air navigation service provider LFV (Luftfartsverket) has selected Frequentis to supply a system for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS Traffic Management/UTM). The new digital platform is to enable safe and scalable drone operations throughout Swedish airspace – for today’s applications as well as for the future expansion of drone infrastructure.

The contract covers delivery of the software, its implementation and long-term support. This lays the foundation for growing drone activity in the country, aligned with the EU U-space regulation (EU 2021/664) for low-level airspace.

Central overview below 150 metres

With the system, drone flights below around 150 metres (500 feet) can in future be monitored and coordinated centrally – by LFV as well as by national authorities such as police, fire brigades and rescue services. Thanks to better air situation awareness and coordination, public and private operators are to be able to expand their activities in a controlled, safe and efficient manner.

LFV: protecting airspace and opening new opportunities

Roger Li, UTM Manager at LFV, explains the move: “With the rapid increase in drone operations, we need an infrastructure that protects our airspace while opening up new opportunities”. He adds: “The new Frequentis platform will enable us to manage low-level airspace in line with national and European requirements – from commercial and government operations to recreational use. In doing so, we support not only innovation and growth in the drone industry, but also the safe integration of unmanned and crewed traffic in Swedish airspace.”

Drone traffic management in several stages

Delivery takes place within a multi-stage framework. Ongoing maintenance and adaptations are included so that the platform can also meet future requirements. This is intended to let LFV take a pioneering role in integrating drones in Europe.

Frequentis also sees the need: “As drone use expands, coordinated traffic management becomes essential”, says Reinhard Grimm, the company’s Executive Vice President Air Traffic Management. “We are proud to support LFV with a digital infrastructure that ensures safety while enabling innovation and growth in the drone economy.”

The partners’ cooperation dates back to 1999. Among other things, Frequentis introduced voice communication systems for two control centres and for all towers at Swedish airports. According to a recent Frequentis press release, the new contract “takes this cooperation to the next level”. The contract is thus regarded as a central building block in Sweden’s goal of creating an integrated drone ecosystem.