SE26 Signature project
Skellefteå Droneport
The airborne transportation of the future is taking shape in Skellefteå. Here, a test environment is being built where companies and social actors together test and develop new technology for electric aviation, drones and sustainable infrastructure.
Arctic Aviation Hub is a hub in this development - and at Hammarängen Skellefteå Södra, Skellefteå Droneport is now being established, one of Europe's largest urban drone airports.
Behind the project are the Arctic Aviation Hub and Skellefteå Municipality. They are joined by a growing ecosystem of researchers, authorities and companies. Henrik Littorin, Program Manager at Arctic Aviation Hub, explains how Droneport will contribute to new solutions for future public services.
På bild: Henrik Littorin utanför Droneport.
Challenge: How do we meet future transport needs?
Sweden is one of the largest countries in the EU in terms of surface area, but also one of the most sparsely populated. Maintaining public services over large distances is a growing challenge. Here, airborne transportation can complement today's infrastructure.
- If we can use the air more efficiently to transport people and goods, we can increase accessibility throughout Sweden," says Henrik.
På bild: Skellefteå Droneport
Solution: An open test environment for future drone services
Skellefteå Droneport offers a unique platform where technology, logistics and social benefits can be tested and developed together. There are runways, offices, conference rooms and an indoor hangar - all modularly built with a low climate footprint and the possibility of reuse.
På bild: Henrik Littorin
- "We want to test everything from vehicles in harsh weather conditions to how to coordinate drone services in dense urban environments without disrupting them," says Henrik.
The vision is that Droneport will eventually serve as an urban node for commercial drone services - and as a model for how other cities can build their infrastructure for future airborne solutions.
Questions and answers about Skellefteå Droneport
Accessibility over large distances, faster public services, more efficient transportation of goods and medicine, and monitoring of critical infrastructure.
By enabling faster testing and commercialization of drone services in real-world settings - and by creating a model for other municipalities to follow.
Locally, Droneport will strengthen public services and innovation. Regionally, it will be a test bed for Västerbotten. Internationally, the experience can pave the way for Swedish solutions in a global industry of the future.
In the short term: training, research projects and commercial tests.
Long term: an established node for drone services and a natural part of future public services.
The project is steeped in sustainability, from building materials to social benefits. The long-term goal is for drones to replace some heavy transportation, thereby reducing climate impact. Drone solutions can also mean that tasks can be carried out safer, faster and with higher quality.
Yes, mainly around the regulatory framework, coordination and technical development of traffic management systems for drones.
- Growing place for sustainable and global footprints.
- A sustainable place for a better everyday life
Researchers, technology developers, societal actors, transport and emergency services, and education actors.
Droneport is a clear example of how Skellefteå drives innovation to create a more sustainable and accessible everyday life – in line with the vision and goals of SE26.
By using drone technology for purposes like measuring snow depth, analyzing traffic flows, and conducting climate research, the project supports smarter public services and sustainable community development.
It also strengthens Skellefteå’s role as a testbed for innovation, fosters collaboration between business, research, and the public sector, and opens up new career opportunities in a future-oriented industry.
Sidinformation
- Senast uppdaterad:
- 5 December 2025