Swedish Jas 39 Gripen jets met a Russian Kilo-class submarine in the Kattegat on Friday, heading into the Baltic Sea. The Armed Forces are tracking it with allies as part of routine operations. The submarine is in international waters without violating Swedish territory.
On Friday, the Swedish Armed Forces' Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets met a Russian Kilo-class submarine in the Kattegat. Two planes took off early in the evening to verify and track the submarine heading into the Baltic Sea. The Armed Forces have monitored the vessel for some time through information sharing with allies.
Pär Pihlqvist, press secretary at the Armed Forces, describes the operation as routine. "It is part of marking presence. In short: 'we see you, we know you are here, we know what you are doing. And we want you to know that'", he says. The action maintains a good situational picture and ensures territorial integrity, according to a press release.
The submarine has not violated Swedish territory and poses no threat, Pihlqvist emphasizes. "It has not posed any threat or deviated from what is normal", he adds. The Armed Forces refrain from giving the exact position but stress good control over the Baltic Sea.
The Armed Forces believe the submarine is heading to bases in St. Petersburg or Kaliningrad. Expert Johan Huovinen says such passages are not unusual, possibly the third Russian submarine in the Baltic Sea. The Norwegian military confirms that Russian vessels routinely transit the Kattegat.
