The defense has now begun a process to purchase drones with explosive charges, so-called kamikaze drones or in English loitering munition. The idea is that they will then be available at several units around Sweden.
Drones in themselves are nothing new for the Swedish defence, but so far they have only been used for reconnaissance. Drones have been a sensitive area.
Has been questioned
During the US war on terror, unmanned aircraft, drones, were used to kill designated terrorists in various countries. At the same time, many civilians were accidentally killed and drone strikes were questioned.
It is a different situation in Europe today, says Dominika Kunertova, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies in Zurich who studies military drones at the European level.
– The drones we are talking about now, and which Sweden is also interested in, have the same effect as cruise robots but the cost is lower. If they are used, it will also be in conventional wars with a defined conflict zone.
Relatively cheap
Many drones used as weapons are today relatively cheap. The Iranian-made drones that Russia uses in Ukraine come at a cost around $20,000 each. That should be compared to a single cruise robot that costs about a million dollars.
According to Dominika Kunertova, the price has a large part in the changed opinion about drones.
– Drones are getting smaller and cheaper, so the cost per effect is more favorable for drones today than for those used around 20 years ago.
According to her, the shift from surveillance drones to armed drones is not as big as it might seem.
– Unarmed drones can be used to direct artillery fire or to find enemy positions, so even if the drone itself is not armed, it is often part of an armed attack.
