Frustrated with Secrecy: Demanding Answers

On Sunday, loud bangs could be heard over the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. The following day, the Air Force confirmed that the two loud bangs were connected to active efforts with combat aircraft.

– There was a drone that was heard, and it was about a sharp effort with two JAS 39 Gripen. However, I cannot go into details about what kind of effort was involved, said the Air Force’s communications manager Louise Levin to SVT on Monday.

Requires multiple responses

On Tuesday, Levin told Dagbladet that it was a routine mission. However, she cannot comment further on the incident.

– The Swedish Air Force confirms that an operation was carried out with preparedness deployed resource – what we in Sweden call incident preparedness, she says and adds:

– Unfortunately, I cannot comment on what led to this action.

The defense initially described the incident as an exercise, before stating that it was a sharp incident.

The Swedish government has now grown tired of the secrecy, and is demanding more answers after the military action.

– This morning I spoke with the Swedish defense about how they will develop the communication around this further, and about the balance between secrecy and openness, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson to SVT.

– Probably Russian planes

The Gripen aircraft are part of the Swedish Armed Forces’ continuous preparedness. Their task is to guard Sweden’s borders around the clock.

Tom Røseth, head lecturer in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy, tells Dagbladet that he is not familiar with why the two fighter jets responded as they did.

However, he has a theory about what might have happened.

– Probably Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Happened before. Protecting own airspace – interception, he writes in an SMS to Dagbladet.

The Swedish defense has confirmed that there was no question of a so-called violation of airspace – that is, that enemy aircraft entered Swedish airspace.

– Sharp efforts, such as intercepting Russian planes on their way to Swedish airspace. Not an offence, but could have been if the Swedes didn’t react. This is a form of power communication, says Røseth and adds:

– If several Russian planes flew in attack formation, it could seem very threatening – and interception is urgent.

– Must be clear

Dagbladet has asked the Swedish Air Force about this theory, but they do not want to comment on what prompted the response.

Major General Fredrik Ståhlberg highlights the security situation in Europe as a reason for the response.

– There is war in Europe and we have a serious security situation. If we have to go up with our plane to identify something or follow something at sea or in the air – then we do it, he says to Aftonbladet.

However, he agrees with the Minister of Defense that external communication must be discussed.

– We must always assess those questions, i.e. how quickly we must communicate. All with the aim of avoiding misunderstandings. We must be clear about what we do and why.