Heimdall becomes the Armed
Forces’ first satellite in space
Published 17:21
The Esrange space base, a few miles east of Kiruna, will be the launch site for satellites. From here, the Heimdall satellite will lift off on a launch vehicle.
The Swedish Armed Forces plan to launch the first own satellite from Swedish soil in three years.
Heimdall 0 will orbit the Earth's poles and open the eyes of the military in space.
- This is important to us, says Jonas Wikman, head of the air force.
Bo Torbjörn Ek
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It is about a so-called demonstrator, a test satellite that will go up into space so that the Swedish Armed Forces can develop their own space capability.
- It is easy to think of this as just a satellite that you launch and operate in space, but there is so much more to it, says Jonas Wikman.
Heimdall 0 is only there to test technology, but in a few years the defense will have satellites that spy on the Earth's surface and bring in images and intelligence to support the Air Force, Navy and Army.
All this is new in the Swedish Armed Forces, which has not had its own satellites before. The Swedish Armed Forces' space department stood up 1.5 years ago - and now it's in a hurry.
- It's about us learning the entire chain, everything from procurement to operating satellites, says Ella Carlsson, the Swedish Armed Forces' space manager.
Facts. Armed Forces’ space billion
In October, the government earmarked one billion kronor for the armed forces space investments.
Among other things, the space billion will strengthen so-called responsive launch capability, which means that you can quickly launch new satellites if old ones are knocked out.
Satellites are used in the military in several ways, including in what are known as multi-domain operations, where space resources are connected to weapons systems on land, in the air and at sea.
So far, Heimdall 0 is just an order from the Defense Material Works. But Carlsson estimates that the satellite should be able to be sent up at the end of 2027 or the beginning of 2028.
After the test satellite come the live, regular satellites: Heimdall 1 to 4.
- Our plan is to have a handful of them. The first shot will be in 2030. Then we might send up one or two. In the next round, a few years later, maybe two more, says Ella Carlsson.
The launch will take place from the Swedish Space Corporation's space base Esrange, a few miles east of Kiruna. This means that the base will become an important military resource for both Sweden and NATO - and something that can disturb opponents.
- We will adapt to it. There is no doubt that these abilities need protection, says Jonas Wikman.
At the same time, the armed forces have started to develop a space operations center in Uppsala. Here, what is called a space situation picture is assembled, which shows, among other things, which enemy satellites are looking down from the stars. It can be important when the armed forces have to move, for example, troops or ships.
- We can do overflight analyses, i.e. find out where a satellite passes, when it passes and with what type of sensor. We can use that in our daily operations, says Ella Carlsson.
Bifrost, Swedish-Danish military space project
Re: Bifrost, Swedish-Danish military space project
Some news, Sweden is calling the coming photo recon satellites Heimdall for one. I approve. Auto-translated:
Re: Bifrost, Swedish-Danish military space project
Auto-translated:
The visit by Saltzmann was interesting, he hinted that the US Space Force is interested in using Esrange as a launch site. At a guess it might have to with launches of polar orbit satellites, and the tail end of this article vaguely hints in that direction.Deepened cooperation with the US Space Force
Headquarters – 7 November 2024 at: 11.14
For some time now, Sweden has had a cooperation agreement with the USA to be able to exchange space-related information. Last week, the head of the US Space Force, General Chance Saltzman, visited the Swedish Armed Forces and Esrange in Kiruna. The visit was hosted by the head of the air force.
MAGNIFY
From left: General Chance Saltzman, Colonel Ella Carlsson, head of the Swedish Armed Forces' space department, and Major General Jonas Wikman, head of the Air Force.Photo: The Swedish Armed Forces
- We have strategic competitors who try to deny us the benefits we get from space. The only way we can really deal with this is as part of a coalition, moving in the same direction.
Sweden has historically been a fantastic partner and is now a member of NATO. Sweden has embraced technological innovation and contributes to the enormous development in commercial and military space activities, says General Chance Saltzman.
Air Force Chief Major General Jonas Wikman emphasizes the importance of cooperation.
A STRATEGIC RESOURCE
- Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defense came out with a space strategy for defense and security in which it is clear that Esrange is an important strategic resource and that Esrange's ability to send up satellites can contribute to allies' access to space, says Jonas Wikman.
The government has granted a billion investment in which the Air Force is responsible for developing space capabilities for the Armed Forces. This includes, among other things, the development of a space situation image, infrastructure to ensure launch from Esrange and operational satellites in support of multi-domain operations.
MANY POSSIBILITIES IN SPACE
Military satellites have a number of uses. They can be used for reconnaissance and surveillance, communication, navigation and positioning, signals intelligence, weather observations and missile launch warning.
In some areas, Sweden is an advanced space nation. As a space nation with an industrial capability in almost the entire value chain, the country has good conditions to contribute to that security through NATO, the EU and with our other cooperation partners.
LOCATION IS CRUCIAL
Sweden's polar location provides ideal conditions for controlling, monitoring and sending satellites that pass over the poles. The geostrategic location in both the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions means that Sweden can play an important role in developing and providing space capabilities and space services within NATO.