Analysis | Sweden's new Kreuger 100 interceptor removes traditional guidance systems to make drone interception affordable.

As reported by Jordan Linn on March 27, 2025, Nordic Air Defence, a Swedish startup, has developed the Kreuger 100, a lightweight, battery-powered drone interceptor intended for both military and civilian applications, contributing to scalable air defense capabilities within Europe. The system uses pulsed propulsion and controlled aerodynamics, replacing conventional onboard hardware with software to reduce production costs and enable large-scale deployment. Supported by a €1.2 million investment led by private investors, the company aims to address aerial threats such as the Russian Orlan-10 and Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
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Designed to replace traditional interceptors that rely heavily on expensive onboard sensors, cameras, and propulsion systems, the Kreuger 100 instead uses pulsed propulsion and software-based flight control to track and intercept targets. (Picture source: Nordic Air Defence)

In November 2024, Nordic Air Defence announced that it had secured a €1.2 million investment to accelerate research, development, and airborne testing of its Kreuger 100 drone interceptor platform. The round was led by Norway-based SNÖ Ventures and marked their first foray into defense technology. Additional investors included Jörgen Bladh, co-founder of Northzone; Jan Gurander, former Deputy CEO and CFO of Volvo Group; and Noam Perski, who joined the company as a strategic advisor. The investment followed the company’s emergence from stealth mode in September 2024 and is considered the second close of a larger strategic round ahead of a planned seed funding phase. Several board members, including Chairman Johan Ahlberg and co-founder Gustav Wiberg, also participated in the funding round.

The Kreuger 100 is the result of a rapid development process initiated by Nordic Air Defence in response to evolving aerial threats and the lack of scalable, affordable counter-drone solutions in Europe. The company was founded by Karl Rosander, previously co-founder of Acast, alongside colleagues Rudolf Nordström, Oskar Heiwe, and Gustav Wiberg. The concept emerged from discussions with physicists at Sweden’s FOI (Defence Research Agency), who helped validate the technical feasibility of replacing expensive drone defense hardware with advanced control software and intelligent aerodynamics. After months of simulation and design, the company quickly moved forward with testing. NAD registered the company, began indoor flight tests, and, due to security concerns, initially conducted outdoor tests in secrecy. The project is protected by three pending patents.

The Kreuger 100 is a lightweight, dual-use (civil and military) drone interceptor platform that prioritizes cost efficiency and operational scalability. Designed to replace traditional interceptors that rely heavily on expensive onboard sensors, cameras, and propulsion systems, the Kreuger 100 instead uses pulsed propulsion and software-based flight control to track and intercept targets. It reaches speeds of up to 270 kilometers per hour in civil configurations, with significantly higher speeds possible in military variants. The interceptor is battery-powered and designed for manual launch, including from hand-held or portable launchers, enabling use in both static and mobile defense scenarios.

The system features a software-centric architecture with advanced aircraft control algorithms that guide the interceptor through controlled aerodynamics rather than expensive mechanical components. It includes an infrared tracking system capable of 24/7 operation in varying weather conditions, including through cloud cover and at night. Its design eliminates much of the conventional hardware used in traditional systems, lowering the production cost by a factor of ten compared to standard interceptors or missiles. This approach enables mass production and deployment at scale. The Kreuger 100 is modular, allowing for mission-specific payloads and launcher configurations adapted to the operational environment.

Nordic Air Defence is a Stockholm-based startup that emerged from stealth mode in late 2024. The company was established with the stated goal of reducing Europe’s dependence on foreign defense supply chains, particularly those originating from the United States. Its team includes individuals with prior experience at leading defense and technology organizations such as Palantir, Kratos, FOI, Saab, Codon, Katla, Quantum Systems, and Zipline. The company’s work spans across drone technology, artificial intelligence, and defense systems integration, bringing together expertise from both civilian and military sectors.

This new interceptor is battery-powered and designed for manual launch, including from hand-held or portable launchers, enabling use in both static and mobile defense scenarios. (Picture source: Nordic Air Defence)

Beyond its immediate product offering, Nordic Air Defence (NAD) plans to expand its portfolio into defense systems targeting air, land, sea, and subsea threats. The company has positioned itself as a provider of homegrown, software-centric defense technologies that can be rapidly developed, tested, and deployed. It aims to contribute to European strategic autonomy by enabling domestic manufacturing and innovation. The company has participated in events such as the Resilience Conference in London and is scheduled to appear at several upcoming defense technology summits and hackathons across Europe in 2025. Its mission includes addressing urgent defense needs with scalable and rapidly deployable systems.

The Kreuger 100 is being developed to address a variety of modern aerial threats. Among the platforms it is expected to counter are the Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone and the Iranian-designed Shahed loitering munition, both of which have been used in recent conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. The system’s mid-altitude engagement capability (around 2,000 meters) is specifically designed to neutralize drones before they reach their targets. According to NAD, these drones often serve roles beyond direct attack, such as identifying coordinates for artillery strikes, which significantly increases their battlefield impact.

In civil contexts, the Kreuger 100 could be deployed to protect airports, nuclear power plants, ports, government buildings, and maritime vessels. Its portability allows it to be rapidly deployed in diverse locations. NAD has emphasized the growing frequency of unauthorized drone activity in Sweden, including surveillance attempts over critical infrastructure and incidents involving foreign nationals operating drones near government facilities. These examples underscore what the company identifies as gaps in Sweden’s air defense coverage, which it estimates currently protects only about 5% of national territory and primarily military installations.

Karl Rosander has stated that Europe can no longer rely on external powers for defense, particularly in light of recent geopolitical developments. He cited the speech by U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the 2025 Munich Security Conference—where European leaders were told not to expect continued U.S. military backing—as a turning point for European defense policy. Rosander argued that the defense sector in Europe has been slow-moving and dependent on foreign suppliers. He also highlighted a shift in public perception, noting that prior to the war in Ukraine, investing in or founding defense companies was stigmatized, referencing backlash faced by Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek in 2021.

Rosander advocates for regulatory and investment reforms to facilitate defense innovation. He believes that ESG-related investment rules should be reconsidered so that defense technology companies are no longer excluded from funding. He also stated that developing domestic capabilities is necessary for both strategic autonomy and operational efficiency. Drawing a comparison with the rapid innovation during the COVID-19 vaccine development process, he argues that the same urgency and collaboration between public and private sectors should be applied to European defense. In his view, current procurement models favor large, slow-moving primes, and are ill-suited to support agile startups producing autonomous and software-defined weapons systems. Rosander has also commented on potential shifts in U.S. defense policy following the 2024 election, noting that while some startups may benefit from the proposed reforms under a new Trump administration, Europe must not depend on U.S. support. He stated that unpredictable U.S. foreign policy could undermine long-term planning in Europe’s defense sector, reinforcing the need for autonomous capabilities.