The defense landscape is shifting fast, with startups driving the future of military technology.
In this series, NextGen Defense takes a closer look at the companies pushing the boundaries with innovative solutions to todayâs security challenges.
No fluff, no sales pitch â just a deep dive into the innovations shaping the future of defense.
In this episode, we sit down with Karl Rosander, CEO of Nordic Air Defence, to explore how Europe’s defense landscape is shifting, the vulnerabilities Sweden faces, and his companyâs approach to counter-drone technology.
How Ukraine Changed Europe’s Defense Perception
Before the war in Ukraine, Rosander explained, entering the defense sector in Europe was nearly impossible for entrepreneurs.
âIt was worse than the stigma around the adult industry,â he said, recalling the backlash Spotify founder Daniel Ek faced in 2021 for investing in German defense company Helsing.
But the war changed everything. âNow, if you run a defense company, people want to listen. You get a hug if youâre doing it for democracy.â
The shift in perception was not just ideological â it was driven by urgent threats. Sweden, despite its technological prowess, is alarmingly underprepared for aerial threats.
âWe have an air defense system that covers only five percent of Swedenâs surface, and only for military infrastructure,â Rosander warned.
Meanwhile, Russian drone incursions are far more frequent than publicly reported, targeting critical infrastructure such as airports and power plants.
Recent incidents, such as two Chinese nationals caught operating drones over Swedish government buildings, highlight the growing vulnerabilities.
New Era of Defense Technology
Seeking to contribute to Europeâs defense capabilities, Rosander co-founded Nordic Air Defence with colleagues Rudolf Nordström, Oskar Heiwe, and Gustav Wiberg, who proposed an alternative method for countering drones.
To assess feasibility, they consulted physicists from Swedenâs defense research agency. âAfter months of calculations and simulations, we confirmed it would work,â Rosander said.
The company moved quickly from concept to execution. âThe day after we registered Nordic Air Defence, tech media outlets were on it. I told them, âGive me three days; weâll launch a website,ââ Rosander recalled.
What began as a confidential project is now secured by three pending patents.
Future of Warfare: Cheap, Scalable, and Effective
One of the challenges in modern warfare is the effectiveness of inexpensive drones against costly defense systems.
âNinety percent of expensive military assets are destroyed by low-cost drones,â Rosander pointed out. This has raised questions about the sustainability of traditional defense strategies, which often rely on expensive systems to counter low-cost threats.
Existing countermeasures, such as jamming technologies, also have limitations.
âAutonomous drones and fiber-optic-controlled drones canât be jammed,â Rosander explained, highlighting the need for alternative solutions.
Introducing the Kreuger 100
Nordic Air Defenceâs answer is the Kreuger 100, a compact, high-speed interceptor designed to neutralize drones before they strike.
Unlike traditional systems, it prioritizes affordability by replacing expensive hardware with software and intelligent aerodynamics.
The device utilizes pulsed propulsion and controlled aerodynamics to maneuver precisely toward its target. For civil applications, it reaches speeds of up to 270 kilometers (168 miles) per hour, while for military use, it can achieve significantly higher speeds.
âWe test this every day indoors but we are also doing flight tests outside,â Rosander said, adding that initial testing had to be conducted in secrecy.
The system is being developed for military, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure protection applications.
Adapting to Modern Threats
Beyond direct interception, Nordic Air Defence sees broader applications for its technology, including potential defenses against Shahed drones targeting Ukrainian infrastructure.
âShaheds come in at mid-altitude, around 2,000 meters. We can take them down before they reach their targets,â Rosander explained.
Looking ahead, he envisions portable defense systems that soldiers could carry in backpacks for rapid drone defense.
âThe most dangerous drones on the battlefield arenât the first-person drones dropping bombs; theyâre the ones that transmit GPS coordinates for artillery strikes. We need fast, affordable ways to neutralize them.â
Future of Nordic Air Defence
Rosander sees potential for the company to expand its work beyond counter-drone systems, exploring defenses against a wider range of aerial threats.
A key part of this strategy is sourcing components domestically to minimize reliance on external supply chains â a growing concern amid geopolitical uncertainties.
Rethinking Civilian and Governmental Drone Defense
With drones increasingly used in conflict zones and beyond, Rosander believes critical infrastructure must take an air-centric approach to security.
Law enforcement and security firms currently lack sufficient means to tackle this evolving threat, he said.
He advocates for more proactive investment in counter-drone solutions, emphasizing the need for rapid deployment capabilities.
At present, he argues, governments acknowledge the drone threat but remain slow to act.
He believes that law enforcement, security firms, and military units should be given more authority to neutralize hostile drones, particularly in peacetime settings.
Swedenâs Role in Drone Innovation
Despite these challenges, Rosander noted that Sweden has been proactively embracing drone technology, with law enforcement and the military rapidly developing and procuring unmanned aircraft systems.
The Swedish government has partnered with the defense industry to develop a drone-swarm technology platform at record speed â a clear sign that lessons from Ukraine are shaping future strategies.
For Nordic Air Defence, the goal remains clear: scalable, effective, and affordable counter-drone solutions for the modern battlefield.
