Sweden has selected a drone from French company Parrot for its Home Guard military reserve unit. The project stipulated the procurement of Parrot’s Anafi USA small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is specifically designed to meet US Army requirements.
The capability incorporates a thermal camera that can detect hot spots from 40 meters (131 feet) in altitude and a camera that can zoom into targets up to two kilometers (1.2 miles) away.
Anafi USA is powered by smart batteries and controlled via the company’s proprietary Skycontroller to deploy across GPS-contested environments. It comes with an optional 8-inch display for real-time flight monitoring.
UAV 06 Skatan
According to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the drone is now delivered under the national security service.
The Anafi USA GOV type, which was selected by Stockholm’s defense ministry, will be called UAV 06 A (Skatan) throughout its operations with the military reserve unit, the agency wrote.
Further Skatan drone distributions are expected for additional combat units beyond 2025.
“The fact that the Home Guard is now the first to widely use remote-controlled aircraft is exactly the right time,”
Home Guard Support Department Head Lt. Col. Jan-Åke Andersson said.
“These systems increase the units’ ability to solve their tasks in both daylight and darkness.”
Big Step
Parrot UAV 06 Skatan drone – Swedish Armed Forces
In the summer of 2024, the Home Guard will receive a carrying system to boost the mobility of personnel managing the drone and corresponding accessories when transporting across the field.
Meanwhile, training for the Skatan instructors has already begun in 2023 and will proceed throughout 2024. Preparation of the future drone pilots is scheduled to commence this coming autumn.
“Acquisition and delivery of UAV 06 means a big step for the Home Guard’s ability to solve, for example, surveillance and protection tasks,”
FMV Home Guard System Manager Peter Wilhelmsson stated.
“The system is easy to use and provides the opportunity for intelligence in real time.”
“It has been a challenge to find a system that meets the needs of the Home Guard, is easy to handle and at the same time takes care of requirements for both security protection and security of supply. Therefore, it is extra gratifying to be able to deliver this system.”
Top Photo: Personnel deploys Parrot drone by hand – Swedish Armed Forces
Source: The Defense Post