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The US intelligence service NSA has tried to spy on the defense group Saab through Danish data cables. Report from Danmarks Radio.
The utility company refers to information from a whistleblower from the Armed Forces Intelligence Service, the Danish equivalent of the Armed Forces Radio Institute (FRA), and various anonymous sources. During the 2012-2015 period, the espionage targeted Danish authorities and companies, but also actors from other countries, including Sweden and Saab.
A significant part of the espionage is said to have had to do with the Danish decision to purchase new fighter jets, which was made in 2015 and 2016.
The choice ultimately fell on the American F-35, in competition with, among others, Saab’s Jas Gripen. According to the whistleblower, the NSA has attempted to obtain information about Jas Gripen via data cables to and from Denmark, which they searched with the Xkeyscore program. In 2013, Xkeyscore became known to the public through American whistleblower Edward Snowden, and the program was described as “the Google of spies” and “the most powerful surveillance tool.”
“Own intelligence agenda”
Saab’s comment on the information is brief:
“Based on the scant information SVT has presented to us and what can be read in the Danish media, we cannot rule out that the actors in this matter have their own intelligence agenda to generate conflict. The information we receive does not go hand in hand. This means that Saab, in this situation, does not want to comment further on the subject or can assess whether it is our business to inform us, ”writes communications manager Sebastian Carlsson to TT.
The security police, who have read the media information, claim that there are various types of attacks and threats against Sweden all the time.
– There is great interest from other states in terms of technology and research, where the Swedish defense industry is interesting. Attacks have become increasingly common in recent years, says Säpo press director Karl Melin.
TT: This information about American espionage, was it something you knew before?
– I don’t have a chance to answer that.
Spying on friends
Wilhelm Agrell, emeritus professor of intelligence analysis, writes in an email to TT that he cannot assess the veracity of current information, but that they are “entirely reasonable” based on how this type of collaboration is structured.
Do you spy on your friends and allies? The simple and unequivocal answer is yes. Signal recognition is done in this way and “friends” can also be important intelligence targets. Saab is a major exporter of high-tech military, sometimes in competition with American companies, “Agrell writes.
It states that as long as the NSA’s intelligence gathering takes place “outside of Sweden and without the involvement of the Swedish authorities, there is not much Sweden can do about it other than strengthen information security and prevent electronic communication in sensitive matters “.
“No comment”
Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist (S) has the cover on the information.
– Defense minister refrains from commenting because it comes from anonymous sources, press secretary Toni Eriksson tells TT.
FRA, whose job it is to protect the Swedish cyber defense, does not want to answer any questions. “We have read the information in the media tonight, but we have no comment on it,” writes communications manager Ola Billger in a text message.
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