C-UAS
WHEELED APCs

Vehicle Comparison — Wheeled Apc

Why Different Packages

Swedish patgb vehicles face drone threats that require tailored countermeasures. The older 6×6 vehicles (Patgb 180, 203) have limited electrical systems — they cannot power a radar (RSP-72 draws 45W continuous). Acoustic + visual detection is the practical maximum. The newer 8×8 vehicles (Patgb 300, 360) have modern generators and power management — radar is feasible and recommended for all-weather capability (acoustic fails in high wind, visual fails in fog/smoke).

Patgb 203 gets a directed jammer (FSG-J1, €4,200, 400m in beam direction) instead of omnidirectional because it is frequently used as a command vehicle. Losing the company commander's vehicle disrupts C2 for the entire company. The directed jammer's 400m range provides convoy escort protection — it can shield vehicles ahead and behind in the column. Dual interceptors (96% combined hit probability) provide redundancy.

Patgb 360: The Template

Patgb 360 (AMV XP, delivery 2025-2026) represents the future: CUAV designed into the vehicle from delivery. No retrofitting, no magnetic mounts, no cable routing through window seals. Factory-integrated sensor mounting points, pre-routed power cables, and Lisa 26 pre-installed on the vehicle's information system. This is how every future vehicle should be delivered — with drone defense as standard equipment, not an afterthought. The €14,900 package cost is included in the vehicle's acquisition budget, not a separate retrofit line item.

Electrical System Determines Package Capability

The deciding factor in CUAV package selection for wheeled APCs is not tactical preference but electrical reality. Older 6×6 platforms (Patgb 180, Patgb 203) have 24V systems with 60A alternators producing approximately 200W of available power after accounting for baseline vehicle electrical loads. RSP-72 radar requires 45W continuous — this fits within the 200W budget but leaves minimal margin for the jammer (35W), Lisa 26 tablet (15W), and other accessories. Any additional load risks alternator overload and vehicle electrical failure.

Newer 8×8 platforms (Patgb 300, Patgb 360) have 28V systems with 150-200A alternators producing 800-1200W of available power. These comfortably support the full CUAV package: radar (45W), jammer (35W), two interceptor canisters (2W standby heaters), Lisa 26 tablet (15W), acoustic sensor (3W) — total 100W with massive margin. The Patgb 360 (AMV XP, deliveries 2025-2026) is designed from factory with CUAV mounting points, cable runs, and power capacity — no retrofit needed. Every future Swedish Armed Forces vehicle procurement should include CUAV as standard equipment specification.

Patgb 203 — The Command Vehicle Exception

Patgb 203 serves as the company command vehicle. Losing the company commander disrupts C2 for the entire company — a disproportionate impact compared to losing a single APC. The CUAV package for Patgb 203 therefore exceeds what its electrical system would normally justify: FSG-J1 directed jammer (€4,200) with 60° beam at 400 meters range replaces the standard FSG-J2 omnidirectional jammer. The directed beam protects not just the command vehicle but the entire convoy ahead and behind in column formation. Lisa 26 recommends jammer orientation based on known drone activity bearings from brigade intelligence, ensuring the protection cone covers the most likely threat direction.

Fleet-Wide CUAV Economics

Sweden operates approximately 500 Patgb variants across the armed forces. Equipping all 500 with CUAV packages ranges from €2.95 million (acoustic-only at €5,950 per vehicle) to €7.45 million (full radar+interceptor at €14,900 per vehicle). For perspective: this equals the cost of 0.6-1.5 Archer artillery systems. The entire wheeled APC fleet receives drone protection for less than the price of two self-propelled guns. Swedish Armed Forces spends approximately €50 million annually on ammunition for training alone — CUAV for the entire fleet costs 6-15 percent of one year's training ammunition budget. The economic argument for fleet-wide CUAV deployment is overwhelming.

← Del av Cuav Overview

External source: Patria AMV – Wikipedia

Implementation

# Patgb Power Budget — Can the Vehicle Support Radar?
def check_power_budget(vehicle_type):
    """Verify vehicle electrical system supports CUAV package."""
    vehicles = {
        "patgb180": {"voltage": 24, "alternator_a": 60, "available_w": 200},
        "patgb203": {"voltage": 24, "alternator_a": 60, "available_w": 200},
        "patgb300": {"voltage": 28, "alternator_a": 150, "available_w": 800},
        "patgb360": {"voltage": 28, "alternator_a": 200, "available_w": 1200},
    }
    
    cuav_loads = {
        "rsp72_radar":    45,   # W continuous
        "fsgj2_jammer":   35,   # W when active
        "acoustic_sensor": 3,   # W continuous
        "lisa26_tablet":   15,  # W
        "interceptor_standby": 2, # W (canister heater in cold)
    }
    
    v = vehicles[vehicle_type]
    total_load = sum(cuav_loads.values())
    
    return {
        "vehicle": vehicle_type,
        "available_w": v["available_w"],
        "cuav_load_w": total_load,
        "margin_w": v["available_w"] - total_load,
        "radar_feasible": v["available_w"] >= cuav_loads["rsp72_radar"] + 50,
        "recommendation": "full_package" if v["available_w"] > 200 else "acoustic_only"
    }

# Patgb 180: 200W available, radar needs 45W → feasible but tight
# Patgb 360: 1200W available → full package with massive margin

Swedish Supply Chain

Related Chapters

Sources

Swedish Armed Forces vehicle data (public). Patria AMV specifications. RSP-72 radar datasheet. Ukrainian wheeled APC C-UAS experience 2022-2026.