NATO drones could bypass electronic warfare with new AI
AI networks will help allies share battlefield data (photo: Unsplash)
NATO drones will be able to detect enemy equipment even when the adversary is jamming communications. The Alliance is testing AI developed by Swedish startup Scaleout Systems, which runs directly on board the drone and allows it to operate autonomously, according to Ars Technica.
Why did the developers abandon giant AI models?
Scaleout Systems, founded by researchers from Uppsala University, initially developed AI for trucks. However, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the startup completely shifted its focus to the defense sector.
Instead of using bulky models from OpenAI or Anthropic, the developers adapted compact computer vision algorithms to run on the less powerful processors used in drones, tablets, and field command posts.
Key features of the technology:
- the drone analyzes the video stream in real time without sending large amounts of data to a ground station;
- the system operates autonomously even if the signal is completely suppressed by electronic warfare systems or central data centers are destroyed;
- the algorithms can continue learning directly during an operation, adapting to new terrain, for example, when moving from a desert to an urban environment.
Successful cases and how autonomous kamikaze drones work
As part of the NATO DIANA program, the developers integrated their AI into the ALMA low-cost kamikaze drone project, which is being developed jointly with BAE Systems Bofors.
During tests in Sweden in January 2026, the drone independently detected, identified, and determined the coordinates of all potential threats.
Based on predefined priorities, the AI independently selected the most valuable target — an armored engineering vehicle — and directed the explosives toward it without a direct command from the operator.
June tests at the Uppsala air base also demonstrated that field nodes can continue training the AI even after losing connection with the central laboratory and, once the network is restored, synchronize the new data.
In the future, the new federated learning system will make it possible to instantly share intelligence data among all NATO member states.
