Draganfly Inc. has deployed its APEX and Commander 3XL drones, equipped with Smith Myers’ ARTEMIS mobile‑phone detection payloads, to Search and Rescue Sweden. The partnership, announced on January 13 2026, marks the company’s first operational use of its UAVs in a European public‑safety context. Payloads range from 0.52 kg to 10 kg, and the ARTEMIS system can detect and locate mobile phones up to 35 km away, giving responders a rapid‑deployment reconnaissance capability across Sweden’s rugged wilderness.
The deployment is a strategic milestone for Draganfly, which has long focused on high‑value public‑safety and defense markets. By entering the European market, the company taps a growing demand for compliant, high‑reliability drones that can operate under stricter regulatory regimes. Sweden’s recent regulatory changes have limited the use of certain aerial platforms for public‑safety missions, creating a niche that Draganfly’s modular, NDAA‑compliant platforms are well positioned to fill.
Technically, the ARTEMIS payload supports up to 48 cellular bands and delivers a 35‑km detection radius, enabling search teams to locate missing persons even when cellular coverage is weak or absent. The integration of ARTEMIS with Draganfly’s lightweight, long‑endurance platforms allows operators to conduct rapid‑deployment reconnaissance and sustained search missions without relying on helicopters, thereby reducing operational costs and response times.
From a business perspective, the partnership is expected to generate new revenue streams for Draganfly and strengthen its competitive moat in the European ISR and public‑safety drone segment. The company’s Q3 2025 revenue of $2.155 million, up 14.4 % YoY, demonstrates its ability to grow in high‑margin segments, and the Swedish deployment is positioned to accelerate that trajectory by opening a new geographic market and expanding its product portfolio.
"After our joint testing with Draganfly and Smith Myers, we are confident these systems will strengthen how we respond to missing‑person and wilderness rescue operations across Sweden," said Richard Öesterlindh, Head of Development at SAR Sweden. "The performance, particularly in challenging weather, exceeded expectations, and the flexibility offered by multiple payload and drone configurations will be a major asset to our teams.",
The announcement was well received by investors, with a positive market reaction that reflected confidence in Draganfly’s strategic expansion and the technological advantage brought by the ARTEMIS integration. Analysts highlighted the company’s ability to secure international contracts and the potential for continued growth in the European public‑safety market.
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