Sweden has decided to return the reconnaissance ship HSwMS Orion to service. The vessel has already served for 39 years and was decommissioned in 2023. Previously, this Swedish reconnaissance ship was used to monitor russian naval activity in the Baltic Sea, but starting from 2028 Orion will be used to test various types of unmanned systems.
At present, the ship is located at the shipyard of Saab Kockums AB in the city of Karlskrona, where it is undergoing repairs. Orion is expected to begin sea trials at the end of 2027, according to the Polish outlet ZBiAM.
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The publication notes that Sweden decommissioned Orion in 2023 after receiving a more modern and capable reconnaissance ship, HMS Artemis, which entered service in 2024.
However, Orion was not scrapped, as even after 39 years of intensive service its main mechanisms and equipment, including signals intelligence and electronic intelligence systems, remained operational.
In addition, it was possible to recruit a new crew for Orion without significant difficulty, specifically tailored to support the testing of unmanned systems. Therefore, the final decision to use Orion as a kind of floating laboratory for testing unmanned platforms appears entirely logical. How long the ship will serve in this role is not yet disclosed. It is also not specified which types of drones Sweden plans to test.
From Defense Express, we emphasize that this is simply an interesting example of how one of Ukraine's partner countries is developing its own infrastructure for independent drone testing, including the use of a decommissioned reconnaissance ship in good condition.
It is also worth outlining the basic characteristics of the Swedish Orion, which will now serve as a "floating laboratory" for drones:
- full displacement, length, and beam: 1,400 tons, 61.2 meters, and 11.7 meters respectively;
- maximum speed: 12 knots, propulsion: diesel;
- crew: 26 personnel, including engineering staff.
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