Trollhättan, Sweden — GKN Aerospace has unveiled its new uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrator less than a year after beginning a collaborative programme with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).
The full-scale UAV mock-up and its newly developed dedicated turbojet engine were displayed on August 21 at Malmen Air Base in Linköping during The Armed Forces Air Venture 2026, held as part of celebrations for the Swedish Air Force’s centenary.
The programme began in November 2025, when FMV awarded GKN Aerospace a contract worth approximately 150 million Swedish kronor (around £12 million). The 18-month programme covers the development of a clean-sheet UAV demonstrator, including its airframe, onboard systems and dedicated turbojet engine.
The project is designed to explore rapid capability development, scalable production and future uncrewed aviation technologies. The UAV will serve as a flexible technology and process demonstrator, allowing the end customer to determine final capability priorities as the programme develops.
The programme brings together GKN Aerospace teams in Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK. Programme leadership and engine development are based mainly at GKN Aerospace’s Trollhättan site in Sweden, while airframe development is centred in the Netherlands, with systems-integration support from the UK.
GKN Aerospace is also examining additive manufacturing, or industrial 3D printing, for different parts of the system, including engine components. The dedicated turbojet is a clean-sheet design and has reached a startup milestone, with most of its development carried out in Trollhättan.
Joakim Andersson, President Engines at GKN Aerospace, said the unveiling represents the first tangible result of work that began as an idea and ambition about a year ago. He credited the close cooperation between FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces and GKN Aerospace teams.
Sara Eklöf, Senior Vice President Government Solutions at GKN Aerospace, said the milestone demonstrates what can be achieved through cooperation between engineering, manufacturing and customer teams, adding that the experience gained will be valuable for the programme’s next phase.
The initiative builds on GKN Aerospace’s long-standing relationship with FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces. The company is the licensed original equipment manufacturer for the RM12 engine used by Saab Gripen aircraft and has extensive military-engine experience in Sweden.
The programme is now moving toward further ground testing of the fuselage and onboard systems, along with preparations for flight testing. The planned 18-month programme is intended to culminate in flying demonstrations to validate overall system performance.
The UAV is currently a technology and process demonstrator rather than a finished operational system. The programme is also expected to provide experience relevant to future Swedish fighter-system development and faster methods of developing military capabilities.
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