Sweden awards GUTE II counter-drone contracts to Saab, BAE Systems Bofors

Sweden announced a SEK 8.7 billion (~$828 million) air defense procurement package on April 2, 2026, grouping contracts with Saab, BAE Systems Bofors, Nammo, and SISU under the program designation GUTE II.  

The announcement was made by Defense Minister Pål Jonson alongside Army Chief Jonny Lindfors and representatives from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). 

Idag kan vi meddela att flera luftvärnsavtal till ett värde av 8,7 miljarder har slutits med leveranser 2027-2028. Luftvärnssystemen ska användas till skydd av kritisk infrastruktur och mot drönare. (1/6) pic.twitter.com/nLTi6gAKhu— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) April 2, 2026

Mobile protection for forces and infrastructure 

GUTE II is a modular, mobile system for countering unmanned aerial vehicles and low-flying threats such as helicopters. It can be mounted on vehicles for mobile operations or deployed in a stationary configuration and is intended to protect both military formations and critical civilian infrastructure including power plants, railway hubs, and population centers. 

“Sweden is large and we cannot defend all places with air defense at the same time,” Jonson said. “The defense industry, together with the defense authorities, has therefore developed a mobile concept called GUTE. The idea is to be able to quickly move the anti-drone capabilities to meet different threat scenarios.” 

Sensors, cannons, and electronic warfare

Trackfire weapon station (Saab)The package draws on several distinct capability layers. Saab’s contribution covers C-UAS detection and electronic warfare components, including the Giraffe 1X radar, the Trackfire weapon station with a 30mm cannon, and advanced electronic warfare systems. BAE Systems Bofors supplies the Tridon Mk2, a 40mm cannon system mounted on a truck platform. Ammunition contracts were placed with Nammo, and vehicles, including trucks and the Terrängbil 24 light utility vehicle, are sourced from SISU. Command and control integration is also part of the package. 

Saab separately announced its share of the contracts at approximately SEK 2.6 billion (~$247 million), with deliveries for the full GUTE II program running from 2027 through 2028. The Swedish Armed Forces will stand up territorial air defense companies for area protection in the coming years. 

“It is more important than ever to invest in air defense capabilities,” Jonson said. “Protection against threats from the air is a high priority for the government and we will conclude more agreements to strengthen the Swedish defense.” 

The contracts announced on April 2, 2026, execute part of two previously announced spending commitments: a January 2026 pledge of approximately SEK 15 billion for territorial air defense, and an earlier package of approximately SEK 3.5 billion earmarked for opportunistic anti-drone acquisitions. The GUTE II package follows a December 2025 Saab contract for additional Giraffe 1X radar systems and a January 2026 Trackfire order, both placed through FMV. The post Sweden awards GUTE II counter-drone contracts to Saab, BAE Systems Bofors appeared first on AeroTime.

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