Volvo Defense has teamed up with Swedish startup Nordic Air Defence to create a counter-unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) for integration onto military vehicles.
Announced at a defense technology exhibition in London, the collaboration will center on the VIPRO system, set for release in 2026. VIPRO combines Nordic’s Kreuger 100XR interceptor with Volvo’s tactical trucks, producing a pod-based launcher to defeat hostile drones.
The interceptor, with a range of more than 3 kilometers, employs AI for autonomous detection and tracking. Its modular design allows adaptation for naval, airborne, and ground-based applications.
The initiative reflects growing concern over the widespread use of low-cost drones in modern warfare. In Ukraine, inexpensive first-person view drones—some costing under $1,000—have destroyed tanks, artillery, and air-defense systems, and are estimated to account for nearly two-thirds of Russian vehicle losses, according to NATO and open-source reports.
This has exposed the vulnerability of trucks and troop carriers, which remain essential for logistics and troop movements. Earlier this year, Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration ordered 775 trucks from Volvo and Scania to support its armed forces, underscoring the enduring reliance on such vehicles.
