Designed for mobile and dispersed land forces, THMS allowed units to establish communications, sensors and other mission systems without relying on fixed infrastructure. It acted as a forward communications and sensing node, extending line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight connectivity between dispersed units and higher command.
“The war in Ukraine has reinforced the need for highly mobile and dispersed operations,” said Christian Tengelin, Director of Business Development at Elbit Systems Sweden. “While mobility and dispersion have long been important military principles, today’s battlefield demands that units establish connectivity, operate, and relocate much faster than before.”
“Remaining in one position for too long can quickly lead to detection and targeting,” Tengelin said. THMS was intended to help units establish operational capabilities quickly and relocate while maintaining communications and mission continuity.
The project began as a replacement for an existing Swedish military capability but expanded in scope and value through close collaboration with the customer. Elbit Systems Sweden said the first unit was scheduled for delivery to the Swedish Armed Forces during the summer, with further contractual milestones expected the following year.
THMS was being developed in two principal configurations: a crewed version with space for an operator and a larger remotely operated variant. Elbit Systems Sweden said removing personnel from the platform could reduce their exposure while allowing the system to support forces from a separate location.
The modular platform accepted communications equipment, surveillance sensors, cameras, ISTAR payloads and systems supporting counter-unmanned aircraft missions. At DALO, Elbit Systems Sweden displayed THMS in an ISTAR configuration with a long-range camera alongside E-LynX radios and other communications capabilities from its C4I portfolio.
“The payload can change depending on the customer’s requirements and the conditions in which the system is operating,” said Sakarias Söderberg, THMS Project Manager at Elbit Systems Sweden. “The important point is that the unit can deploy independently and establish the required capability very quickly.”
THMS featured a telescopic mast reaching up to 25 metres and supporting elevated payloads of up to 100 kg. The platform had a target capacity of more than four tonnes of mission equipment, requiring a balance between payload height, mast stability, overall weight and mobility.
The system operated as a self-contained unit with integrated power generation, enabling autonomous operation for up to 24 hours independently of its host vehicle. An automated mast and automatic guying rope system allowed personnel to complete setup in less than five minutes while reducing operator workload.
THMS was compatible with tracked and wheeled platforms, ranging from small tracked vehicles to 4×4 flatbed vehicles. Elbit Systems Sweden said the next stage of development would move towards fully autonomous platforms to increase survivability while retaining rapid communications and sensor deployment.
The system was developed and manufactured in Sweden using a European supply chain, with equipment adapted to climatic and regulatory requirements in the European market. It was designed for Scandinavian conditions, including temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius, while local production supported European and NATO requirements for secure supply chains.
Before DALO, Elbit Systems Sweden had presented THMS to European and NATO customers during a large-scale field demonstration of digitalised land force networks. The company said the system demonstrated resilient communications and operational continuity in complex and contested environments and was available as a mature, ready-to-deploy capability.
“Future land operations will depend on the ability to connect distributed forces, sensors and effectors in real time,” said Tobias Wennberg, CEO of Elbit Systems Sweden. “THMS provides a flexible and rapidly deployable platform designed to extend battlefield connectivity and support next-generation digitalized land operations.”
