Russia Uses Swedish and Western Technology in Secret Arctic Underwater NATO Surveillance
Investigations reveal Russia's use of Swedish and Western technology in a secret underwater Arctic system spying on NATO.
- • Russia built the 'Harmoni' underwater surveillance system in the Arctic using Western, including Swedish, technology.
- • Swedish company Satmission sold communications equipment which was used in the system worth 8.8 million kronor in 2023.
- • Technology was routed through shell companies in Cyprus and Turkey to bypass sanctions.
- • The surveillance system monitors NATO activity and protects Russia's nuclear submarines based on the Kola Peninsula.
Key details
Recent investigations have uncovered that Russia has constructed a covert underwater surveillance system named 'Harmoni' in the Arctic, utilizing technology from Western countries, including components from Sweden. This surveillance network is situated along the seabed of the Barents Sea, a sensitive military area crucial for monitoring NATO movements and protecting Russia's nuclear capabilities, particularly its submarines based on the Kola Peninsula.
The Harmoni system incorporates communication equipment from Swedish company Satmission, which sold technology worth 8.8 million kronor to Russia in 2023. This equipment reached Russia via Turkey, facilitated through a network of shell companies based in Cyprus and Turkey, circumventing Western sanctions. The Cypriot shell company Mostrello, currently under U.S. sanctions, played a key role in funneling Western technologies such as sonars and fiber cables to Russia.
A leak from Cyprus, along with tips from the CIA, led to a German court case in 2021 investigating how Western technology ended up supporting Russia’s military efforts. Norwegian company Kongsberg was also implicated until Norwegian security police intervened in 2024.
Russian officials have acknowledged the existence of the Harmoni system but had not disclosed detailed information until this investigation. Military experts emphasize the system's strategic significance in protecting Russian nuclear assets from NATO threats. This exposé reveals how Swedish and broader Western technology has unintentionally contributed to Russia's defense infrastructure in the Arctic.