An investigation by SVT and international media reveals that underwater robots from Saab have been used in Russia's secret Harmoni surveillance system in the Arctic. The robots were delivered to Russian customers until 2018 in compliance with export rules but ended up with the Russian military. Russia has also produced copies of the technology.
SVT's investigation, conducted in collaboration with European media as part of the 'Russian Secrets' project, reveals how Western technology has ended up in Russia's surveillance system along the Arctic seabed despite sanctions. The system, named Harmoni, runs through the Barents Sea and aims to protect Russia's nuclear arsenal by eavesdropping on NATO activities underwater.
Among the Western technology are dozens of Saab Falcon underwater robots, produced by Saab's British subsidiary Saab Seaeye. These drones can operate to a depth of 300 meters and were delivered to Russia until 2018. The end recipient was the Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), a secretive unit within the Russian military specialized in underwater espionage using submarines and vehicles.
The investigation began after a CIA tip to German prosecutors about a network of shell companies circumventing sanctions to acquire high-tech equipment, including sonar from Norway and drones from the UK. A sanctions expert consulted by SVT states that Saab's sales did not violate rules at the time, as the robots did not reach depths over 1,000 meters and thus were not subject to export controls.
Saab confirms in a statement: 'The sales were conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and export regulations. We ended both the deals and technical support before 2019.' The company emphasizes cooperation with Swedish and British authorities and has no knowledge of current use, as the deals ended before the UK export ban in 2019.
According to the investigation, Russian military technicians have copied the Saab Falcon and labeled the copies as 'made in Russia.' 'Russian Secrets' was coordinated by German NDR with partners like the Washington Post, Le Monde, and NRK, based on leaked documents via ICIJ.