Sweden to Create Mobile AA Fire Teams Based on Ukraine’s Example

The Swedish government is investing $1.63 billion to create a network of mobile AA fire teams that will track and target aerial threats across the country.

According to the official Swedish government website, the core of the new strategy will be highly mobile teams, capable of quickly deploying to protect specific cities, ports, or power plants.

This approach is a direct response to modern threats, particularly mass drone and cruise missile attacks, as demonstrated in Ukraine.

The mobile AA fire teams will be equipped with anti-aircraft guns mounted on trucks and armored vehicles, as well as portable surface-to-air missile systems. Each unit will operate as an autonomous entity, equipped with its own detection systems and communication tools.

This will allow the teams to quickly change positions, avoiding retaliatory strikes, and cover ‘gaps’ in the defense where the greatest threats emerge.

Overall, the Swedish Ministry of Defence noted that this tactic is significantly cheaper than using high-cost missiles like Patriot or IRIS-T to target relatively low-cost threats.

Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson emphasized that recent years’ experience has proven the effectiveness of such decentralized units.

They enable the creation of a dense ‘shield’ over civilian infrastructure without diverting main air defense forces from the front line or military targets.

The formation of new units is expected to begin this year. The government plans to purchase equipment in large batches to quickly equip the armed forces with the necessary number of mobile platforms.

One of the systems that will strengthen Sweden’s mobile fire teams is the Loke complex. It is positioned as a cost-effective and rapid development: the time from technical specifications to prototype creation took just 84 days, with only a few months until deployment.

The system consists of the mobile Saab Giraffe 1X radar, the remotely operated Trackfire combat station (armed with heavy and medium machine guns), and electronic warfare tools.

In January 2026, the Swedish Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Saab for the delivery of these systems as part of the air defense modernization program. The value of the deal is approximately SEK 1.5 billion (€140 million). The order was placed in the fourth quarter of 2025, with deliveries scheduled for 2026–2028.

Overall, Sweden is investing SEK 3.5 billion ($367 million) to enhance its drone defense capabilities between 2026 and 2028.

Trackfire Remote Module

The Trackfire RWS is a fully stabilized, remotely operated combat module that ensures high accuracy even while in motion. The module is suitable for installation on ships, ground platforms, or stationary positions. Its key advantage lies in the Stabilized Independent Line of Sight (SILOS) technology, which allows the operator to keep the target in view regardless of the vehicle’s maneuvers or the movement of the weapon.

The armament of the Trackfire RWS covers a wide range of weapons: from the 30 mm M230LF Bushmaster cannon to Mk19 and GMG grenade launchers, as well as M2 HMG and FN MAG 58 machine guns. The operator can quickly switch between different types of weaponry.

The order also includes a new version, the Trackfire ARES (Aerial Response) RWS. This version is equipped with a 30 mm M230LF Bushmaster automatic cannon, which is effective against drones. The cannon uses both standard high-explosive fragmentation rounds and specialized munitions with programmable fuzes.