Argo Defence Group on the offensive

Products for military and civil defence have become increasingly important in the turbulent world. Argo Defence Group can produce customised and modified products completely according to the customers' specific needs and wishes. The largest customers today are the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces. The next step is to enter more markets internationally.

– We will have good growth in the areas where we operate, now we aim to enter new defence markets in other countries, says Mariem Butler, Deputy CEO of Argo Defence Group.

Argo Defence Group is a very young group, created in 2025. However, the six subsidiaries are considerably older and have extensive experience in their fields, the oldest was founded in 1958, which is why the group actually has its roots all the way back to the 1950s.

– This is important to understand, we have been working with defense for a very long time, says Mariem Butler.

She is the Deputy CEO of Argo Defence Group and the CEO of the group's largest subsidiary, Swedish Net Air & Defence, where she has worked for five years. Swedish Net Air & Defence accounts for approximately 75 percent of Argo Defence Group's total turnover. Previously, Mariem Butler has worked with business development for many years, both in Sweden and internationally.

Argo Defence Group has three business areas.

– We have chosen our three business areas after the areas where we have built up expertise and experience over a very long time and created a very large network.

Defence Materiel. This is by far the largest business area that develops and delivers advanced equipment, materiel, systems and services that strengthen both military and civil defence. Here is Mariem Butler's subsidiary Swedish Net Air & Defence, which usually makes some form of adaptation of products sold to the Swedish defence.

– We sell equipment and materiel to the Swedish defence. Often we make some form of adaptation to suit the defence's requirements, sometimes we develop something completely new, says Mariem Butler. This is the part that we are very good at, we also work closely with subcontractors and develop our products or solutions together with them.

Counter-Explosive Risk Solutions. This involves developing tailor-made solutions for mine clearance, explosive risk management and diving systems for military applications

– We have worked a lot with Ukraine in focus, especially with solutions for mine clearance both on land and in water. The head of the Ukraine operation is stationed in Kiev, Ukraine. When peace comes, the work of clearing mines can really pick up. As long as the war continues, mine clearance work is limited.

Airfield Operations. A business area that deals with the design and installation of technical systems and infrastructure for airports.

– For example, we can install instrument landing systems that tell you where on the runway the aircraft is going to land. We install all the runway lights – and this is a large number for a single runway – we can supply control systems to the towers. Within this business area, we deliver to both military and civilian airports.

Airfield Operations is currently a slightly smaller business area, so Mariem Butler believes that there is great potential going forward, many airports in Sweden have a great need to renew their infrastructure and systems. This renovation need applies especially to military airports.

– Within this area, we also have our own product that is very interesting, says Mariem Butler. It is a type of casting compound that is used to attach runway lights to the runway. The unique thing about our casting compound is that it hardens in a maximum of two minutes, which means that flight operations do not need to be interrupted for more than a minimal time.

How many customers have you sold this product to?
– We have sold it to over 100 airports around the world, precisely because it has such advantages, says Mariem Butler.

Argo Defence Group works a lot with framework agreements since the Swedish defence is the largest customer. Currently, ongoing framework agreements are worth SEK 867 million, of which SEK 564 million remains to be ordered from the Swedish defence.

– The fact that we have framework agreements means a good revenue visibility, we can better predict what revenue we will have.

Can you describe some deliveries that you have in the pipeline?
– We are currently delivering specially adapted containers to the Swedish defence. They should be able to be used for transport but above all as storage, so they need to be specially equipped to function without being visible in the dark, for example, so they have an IR-reflective paint on the surface, says Mariem Butler.

– We are also delivering radio link antennas to the Swedish defence. We have purchased the antennas from the world's largest antenna manufacturer, then we modify them to suit the defense - it is an example of how we work to further develop the products we deliver.

Once Argo Defence Group has developed these products and created something new, it becomes their own product. It can then be modified again to suit other customers and then sold on to other NATO countries.

– We have started looking at NATO countries but we don’t have any business there yet, the market is potentially very large, says Mariem Butler.

Where is Argo Defense Group aiming for the near future?
– There are huge opportunities in defence, we see a clear increase in preparedness throughout Europe. It opens up a lot of possibilities for us.

Defense procurements are numerous and the amounts involved are much larger than just a few years ago. The explanation for that is the situation around the world, the war in Ukraine and unrest in, among other things, the Middle East.

You are present in Ukraine, what is happening there?
– There are many Swedish companies that want to enter Ukraine and because we are present there, we can often become resellers for those who operate in our business area. Now we have also started working with Ukrainian companies and we have signed reseller agreements with a couple of them. So now we should also be able to sell their technology in Sweden and to the rest of Europe.

Ukraine has become experts in the manufacture of drones, and Argo Defense Group has already signed an agreement with a Ukrainian company that manufactures drones for reconnaissance with very advanced software.
– Ukraine has a lot in general that is very interesting. Their products are "battle proven ", i.e. tested in the field. They know what works. Many consider that Ukraine has become a leader in defense technology, there is a lot to learn for us there.
– We see it as an important opportunity for us to try to cooperate with Ukrainian companies to sell their products in Europe and the world.

What are your goals for the future?
– The plan is to approach our nearby markets within our Defence Materiel business area, says Mariem Butler. Many other countries carry out procurements in much the same way. Everyone also has similar needs, so our focus is to get outside Sweden within the Defence Material area.