Russian Arctic Surveillance System Built Using Swedish Saab Technology Revealed
Revealed: Russia’s Arctic seabed surveillance system incorporates Swedish Saab underwater drone technology sold before 2019 export bans, highlighting challenges in controlling military-use technology flow.
- • Russian military built Arctic seabed surveillance using Swedish technology.
- • Saab's underwater drones sold to Russia until 2018; sales ended prior to 2019 UK export ban.
- • CIA tipped off German prosecutors about network circumventing sanctions to supply Russia.
- • Russian military made copies of Saab Falcon drones labeled 'made in Russia.'
- • Surveillance system monitors NATO movements and protects Russian nuclear arsenal.
Key details
An advanced Russian military underwater surveillance system in the Arctic has been uncovered, built using Swedish technology from defense company Saab, alongside technology from other Western countries. The system, laid along the seabed of the Barents Sea—a strategically crucial area due to its nuclear-armed submarines stationed on the Kola Peninsula—enables monitoring of NATO movements under the Arctic ice, according to investigations by SVT and various European media outlets.
Saab's British subsidiary Saab Seaeye supplied dozens of underwater drones known as Saab Falcon drones (capable of operating at depths up to 300 meters) to Russia until 2018. Sales ceased before export bans were imposed by the UK government in 2019. Saab has stated it fully complied with relevant export regulations and has ceased all related business with Russia prior to these sanctions.
The investigation was initiated after a CIA tip-off to German prosecutors about a Russian national involved in a network circumventing sanctions through shell companies based in Cyprus and Turkey to acquire Western high-tech equipment—including sonar systems from Norway and the underwater drones. Despite no direct evidence suggesting Saab violated laws, the drones ended up with a Russian military unit called GUGI, specialized in underwater espionage. Reports also indicate Russian military engineers have reverse-engineered copies of Saab's Falcon drones, branding them "made in Russia."
In addition to Saab's underwater drones, other Swedish and Western technologies, including communications equipment and sensors, are components of the surveillance network, emphasizing the complex flow of technology into Russian military hands despite Western sanctions.
This revelation adds to concerns about advanced Western technology being used by Russia to enhance its military capabilities in the Arctic amidst heightened geopolitical tensions. Saab has expressed that it is unaware of the current use of its technology and is cooperating fully with Swedish and British authorities.
The news arrives amid increased military exercises by Russia in the Barents Sea scheduled for 2024, underscoring the strategic military importance of the region and the role of these surveillance systems in protecting Russian nuclear assets.