Drone defence firm could help Ukrainian soldiers

A former paratrooper in the Norwegian special forces has set-up a new drone defence company in Swindon to better protect Ukraine's soldiers.

Magnus Freyer created Munin Dynamics to develop a low-cost arms system, that will give soldiers individual defences from drone attacks. The former soldier turned entrepreneur said "all is falling into place" having found the "perfect" location in the borough.

Munin Dynamics will be joined by German drone factory, Stark, in the near future.

Will Stone, MP for Swindon North, said he is on a mission "to make Swindon the drone manufacturing hub of the UK" adding that he is "confident" there will be four companies in Swindon before the end of the year.

Having left the Norwegian army Mr Freyer studied mechatronics at Stanford University in California.

During his studies he began to feel people were not addressing problems he felt were important.

A trip to Ukraine's front line followed where Mr Freyer discovered that "drones coming after people" was the Ukrainian military's "biggest problem" and that they had "no solution".

Mr Freyer created Munin Dynamics to solve this problem, he said: "We're making something a soldier can carry around with them that will protect them from drones with explosives coming at them".

"My whole life I've been looking for something meaningful that I'm good at and I feel like I've found that here," he added.

Munin Dynamics is one of several drone firms setting up in Swindon

Mr Freyer said he chose Swindon as the company's base because its "close enough to UK talent but is cheaper to set-up" adding he also "found the perfect location at the time he needed it".

Currently Munin Dynamics employs four specialists and expects to expand over time.

Mr Freyer said he has expressions of interest from the Ukrainian military and expects to have a workable model for the frontline in twelve months.

Drone warfare has been used to devastating effect during the Russia-Ukraine war something Mr Freyer believes will shape modern warfare in years to come.

He said: "It's [drones warfare] another way to create cheap mass.

"While the west has focussed on complex weapons that can handle multiple-tasks but you can only create a small number of them [because of expense] the Ukranians, Russians and to some extent the Chinese have been focussed on making things that are very cheap.

"I definitely think that is here to stay," he added.

Drones have been used to devastating effect during the Ukraine Russia conflict

MP for Swindon North, Will Stone, said "it's no secret" that he is trying to make Swindon the drone manufacturing hub of the UK.

He said his aim is to have more drone companies in the town offering "high paid jobs" and paying business rates to Swindon Borough Council.

Mr Stone said he is "confident" Stark and Munin Dynamics will be joined by two more drone manufacturing companies before the end of the year which he said will be "big news" for Swindon.

Adding it will create "up to 500 new jobs and nearly £3m in business rates".