Skysense catches drones in the act: “Many are starting to understand the possibilities”
Drones can fly several kilometers without being detected, which makes them a security risk. Deeptech company Skysense wants to chance that. With its self-developed technology, it can detect both a drone and its pilot at record speed – and customers are lining up.
Robby de Candido, co-founder of Skysense. Photo by Jonas T Borg.
Drones can fly several kilometers without being detected, which makes them a security risk. Deeptech company Skysense wants to chance that. With its self-developed technology, it can detect both a drone and its pilot at record speed – and customers are lining up.
“It’s clear that many are starting to understand the possibilities with our technology,” says founder Robby de Candido.
The typical scenario
Imagine you are part of the security team at an energy company’s power plant. You sit in the control room when a small dot starts blinking red on the screen. It is accompanied by an increasingly urgent beeping sound.
The dot moves steadily closer to critical infrastructure. Is it a drone on a spying mission or a hobbyist flying for fun? Impossible to know. Until now.
With one click, you not only see the drone’s exact position, you also see where the pilot is located. Two minutes after detection, a security vehicle is already on its way to investigate.
Not just flights on the screen
This is not a hypothetical scenario. Over the past ten years, Skysense has developed receiver sensors that capture the radio signals used by most drones. For example, the company’s system located a pilot when a drone flew toward Sundsvall-Timrå Airport in October 2025.
But the story began on Haukedalsgatan in Kista. Robby de Candido and his cofounders previously worked at Ericsson, just a short walk away.
The had worked with GSM Technology for cruise ships and learned that companies like Google and Amazon were about to start using delivery drones that worked on a specific flight monitoring system. They decided to build their own receiver using similar principles.
At the same time, Swedish flight tracking service Flightradar24 was growing rapidly.
“We contacted Flightradar24 and explained that we could help them display drones on their map too. That’s data you can’t buy.”
This became Skysense’s first major order. Flightradar24 also became its first investor.
Security threat under the radar
The technology to locate drones worked. Around 2019, drones began attracting more attention in public debate.
“They became a problem because they interfered with airspace and were used for smuggling and espionage. We started investigating whether we could install our receivers at infrastructure sites lik ports and power plants.”
It proved to be the right move. Security systems integrator Securitas Technologies became an investor. This helped the companyt reach the market faster. Eventually, Skysense was acquired by global security company Axis Communications, which is now its owner.
From a preparedness perspective, drone detection is becoming increasingly important. Several recent incidents have involved drones disruption airport operations.
Traditionally, security has focused on ground-level protection such as fences, ground sensors, and cameras. But drones operate in the air, creating a new security gap.
“It’s evident that many are starting to understand the possibilities of our technology. Perimeter protection has always been seen as two-dimensional, on the ground. With drones and their strong development, you need to protect air space too. You simply need 3D perimeter protection.”
Today’s drones can fly several kilometers away from where it is being controlled and up to 150 meters above the ground. This makes them very difficult to catch. Unless detection systems are in place of course.
“We integrate our system directly into the customer’s security infrastructure. At a large military airport that might involve four receivers. The result is two symbols on the operator’s map – one for the drone and one for the pilot.”
We can fly straight into the woods
Over the years, Skysense has operated from several locations in Kista. From office hotels to its own office with rooftop access, allowing real-world testing.
“We still conduct tests in Kista regularly because we know where we are able to fly straight into the woods without disturbing anyone. We often buy new drones and analyze them through reverse engineering. We also bring customers there to demonstrate the system live.”
Kista has become an important hub for drone technology. Examples are companies such as Oscilion, developing drone jammers, and T2Data, building drone swarm technology. In addition to this, Kista Science City runs a program that trials deliveries by drones in collaboration with the City of Stockholm and Nokia.
Over the years, Skysense has also worked closely with KTH Royal Institute of Technology, recruiting several of its employees from their programs.
“We had a joint project running through the end of 2025 where we built self-learning systems using AI. Being close to academia and companies like Ericsson and KTH is extremely valuable for a startup.”
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