Sweden deploys first Loke counter-drone system to defend bases from small drone attacks.

Saab confirmed that Sweden’s Air Force has deployed the Loke counter-drone system for the first time during a NATO operation in Poland.

On September 29, 2025, Saab confirmed that Sweden’s new Loke counter-drone (C-UAS) concept was deployed during the Swedish Air Force's contribution to NATO operations at Malbork Air Base in Poland between April and September 2025. This cost-effective modular system, built around Saab’s Giraffe 1X radar and the Trackfire remote weapon station, is designed to detect, classify, and neutralize small, low-cost drones quickly, improving base protection for allied logistics lines (including a hub supporting aid to Ukraine).
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First presented in February 2025, the Loke combines Saab’s Giraffe 1X radar for detection and classification, a Trackfire Remote Weapon Station capable of mounting various machine guns and grenade launchers, and electronic warfare components for signal tracking and disruption. (Picture source: Saab)

The first deployment of the Loke system took place at Malbork Air Base in Poland, where Swedish forces from the 21th Wing and later the 17th Wing were tasked with securing allied facilities. Among these facilities was a logistics hub central to the transfer of military aid to Ukraine. The concept, jointly developed by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the Swedish Air Force, and Saab, has already been incorporated as part of Sweden’s base-defense structure. Lieutenant Colonel Christian Bertilsson, commander of the Swedish contingent in Poland, stated that the deployed systems reinforced protection for both Swedish and allied operations during the mission.

The Loke system was first presented in February 2025 after an accelerated development period that compressed evaluation and delivery into 84 days. This project initially began as an industry-led demonstration before being transformed into a time-limited development cycle. On 17 March 2025, FMV, Saab, and the Swedish Air Force completed a full evaluation of the system, confirming that it provided a functional, mobile, and scalable response to unmanned aerial system threats. Loke was designed to address the growing operational gap created by small, low-cost drones that are difficult to detect and intercept with conventional air defense systems. By integrating existing components into a modular structure, the Swedish Armed Forces aimed to test whether practical operational solutions could be produced in a fraction of the time usually required.

At the core of Loke’s detection capability is Saab’s Giraffe 1X radar, a 3D multi-mission system capable of air surveillance, ground-based air defense target acquisition, and counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar warning. The radar is optimized for detecting low, slow, and small aerial targets and includes a Drone Tracker function to distinguish UAVs from birds while minimizing false alarms. Giraffe 1X performs 360-degree scanning once per second, has a total weight under 150 kilograms with a topside weight of approximately 100 kilograms, and can be mounted on vehicles, trailers, buildings, or masts. It is also transportable by helicopter. The radar integrates into larger air defense architectures, can operate as a standalone system or gap-filler, and includes provisions for sea surface surveillance and full C3 functions. Automatic tracking allows it to simultaneously conduct surveillance, target acquisition, and early warning without degrading performance.

The engagement function is provided by the Trackfire Remote Weapon Station, a stabilized system previously fielded on naval and amphibious platforms. Trackfire employs a Stabilised Independent Line of Sight to decouple its sensor module from the weapon axis, maintaining line of sight during recoil and allowing continuous target lasing with 3D ballistic calculation. It can be armed with a range of weapons, including the 12.7 mm M2 heavy machine gun, the 7.62 mm FN MAG58, the Mk19 40×53 mm grenade launcher, and the H&K GMG 40×53 mm grenade launcher. It also supports integration of non-lethal options such as smoke launchers, dazzlers, spotlights, and loudspeakers, as well as the possibility of lightweight cannons or missiles. Operators can change mounted weapons through the human-machine interface, indirect fire is possible with grenade launchers, and the system can be operated remotely from under armor with a reversionary mode in case of damage or failure.

Trackfire’s architecture includes a Director Unit, Sensor Module, Human Machine Interface, Gunners Display, Fire Control Panel, Control Handle, and Video Tracker. Information is displayed ergonomically to enable rapid target acquisition without distracting operators. It supports data sharing between platforms or within a single vehicle or vessel, and dual-command functions reduce engagement times. Technical specifications include an elevation range from −20° to +55°, unlimited azimuth rotation, angular velocity of up to 120° per second, and angular acceleration up to 400° per second². The system operates between −30°C and +55°C and complies with MIL-STD-461F and MIL-STD-810G standards. The Director Unit weighs approximately 280 kilograms, with dimensions of 950 mm in height and 1050 mm in width. Sensors include a 3–5 µm infrared module, a day camera with optical zoom ranging from 40° to 2°, and a Class 1 eye-safe laser rangefinder with an effective range beyond 4,000 meters and accuracy of ±5 meters.

The Loke system combines these detection and engagement elements with electronic warfare components to provide both physical and electromagnetic spectrum tracking. This creates multiple options for neutralization in addition to early detection, ensuring cost-aligned responses against small, low-cost drones. Loke is scalable with provisions for adding sensors and effectors and is designed to maintain coverage while being redeployed between bases. Within Swedish defense structures, it supplements existing soldier-level drone detection and disruption systems, particularly around airbases. Saab has already delivered Trackfire systems for Sweden and Finland’s naval and amphibious units, and Loke extends that role into base-defense missions on land. Operational results include successful tracking and engagement of both rotary-wing and fixed-wing UAVs during trials.

Development and integration were managed by the Air Warfare School, Command and Control Warfare School, and Air Force Staff, with support from the Ground Warfare School and input from Norrbotten Air Wing F 21 to ensure operator requirements were included from the beginning. The Swedish Armed Forces continue to develop Loke, with the 21th Wing currently training to operate the system at the platoon level. Lessons learned from multinational exercises such as Baltic Trust 2025 in Latvia are being incorporated into further development stages. Full integration into wartime units is planned for the end of 2025. Statements from senior military and Saab officials emphasized that the compressed development was intended to bypass conventional multi-year procurement processes in order to provide a rapid response to the rising threat of small and hostile drones.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.