Swedish arms exports to China are prohibited for decades.
Now reveals SVT’s “Mission Review” to FOI plans to sell advanced Swedish Air Force technology to dictatorship – with the help of KTH, Royal Institute of Technology.
The system can be used to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Defence Research Agency, FOI, has once again become the subject of allegations of secret arms exports and hidden decoy set up.
In today’s broadcast features “Mission Review” a series of documents showing that försvarsmyndigheten several years planning a depth cooperation with China.
Dictatorship is 25 years subject to an EU arms embargo – and parliament agree to Sweden under no circumstances should work with China on military or defense-related research.
wanted to start companies
The tacit cooperation as “Mission Review” now reveals all about the Swedish software for calculation of aerodynamics, Edge, as the defense developed to JAS Gripen.
According to the TV program began cooperation in 2009 when the FOI researchers visited Beijing – where the representatives of the great Chinese Research CAE showed great interest in the Swedish-developed software.
The State Research Institute is described by experts as an important part of the Chinese defense industry.
In order to overcome the political problems of selling software to China had FOI initially a plan that was similar decoy approach of “Saudi deal.”
“We therefore suggest that the title to Edge is transferred to a private company,” it says in one of the documents FOI, as “Mission Review”.
Engages KTH
But incorporation seems never to have lost – instead gave FOI right to license the Edge at KTH, Royal Institute of Technology.
The decision was signed by FOI director general Jan-Olof Lind May 9, 2012 – in the midst of the buzz about the “Saudi deal.”
“FOI intend to let KTH sublicense, a limited part Edge with a view to be able to cooperate with countries that FOI can not or will sign an agreement with, for example. China. This has the support of DG, SAAB and FMV. “It says in a report from FOI as” Mission Review “features.
” Partnerships with the FOI sensitive countries is done by KTH, “it says in an Internet FOI pm.
KTH confirms in TV program cooperation but claim it is about basic research and to Chinese CAE only have access to a non-safety-rated version of Edge.
– The they want to get a qualification, to work together on these research questions of method development, says Professor Gunilla Efraimsson at the Department of Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering, KTH, for “Mission Review”.
Can develop nuclear weapons
According to FOI’s own documents on the Edge, the software can be used for computations of bomber and missile precipitation – in the case of China’s nuclear-tipped missiles.
But neither it or the system to be sold to China told FOI when turned to control body the ISP, the ISP to ask if Edge falls legislation on military equipment.
If the ISP had had this knowledge, they had not allowed the export of Edge, according to Jan-Erik Lövgren, Director General of the ISP.
– This is a functionality we note, that can be used in mass destruction programs and if there is an arms embargo and military end use, so can such a product be under control with a different code, which deals with products for dual use, he says to “Mission Review”.
“Difficult to verify”
According to KTH university has not even consulted the Chinese party if you plan to use Edge militarily.
– That I do not know if they will do. It is general knowledge, it can be used to very much, of course, says Kenneth Billqvist, Department Manager, Research Office, Royal Institute of Technology, to “Mission Review”.
FOI refers to an agreement prohibiting the Chinese to use the software for military purposes. And when “Mission Review” gets hold of a representative of the CAE deny that Edge will be used for military purposes.
But how the contract should be checked FOI can not answer.
– The is difficult to verify in practice, so it’s said Peter Eliasson, head of research at FOI.
– It is clear that they can use the egde to make it but then battles you so against the agreement, KTH set up today.
Facts
Jan-Olof Lind, Director General, FOI
About KTH is to take care of partnerships with countries that FOI can not write contracts with such as China, according to internal FOI documents.
– Yes, there is information that I do not recognize and I have not taken such a decision. It I have taken a position on whether the FOI could give KTH right to sublicense. There is nothing secret in this case, but the preparation of the case has been completely open and to me it sounds very strange, says Jan-Olof Lind to “Mission Review”.
If that FOI co-KTH-China emerging as a decoy set up.
– No, I am totally against that description, it is a completely open handling this and I have decided … about giving KTH right to sublicense.
If that China’s counterparty in the deal.
– I knew – when the question came up to me – so I knew that China was a potential beneficiary of the license in the event we would give KTH decision. And then they have to follow the same rules that we have. They are subject to exactly the same regulations as FOI when they enter into agreements with international parties.
Peter Gudmundson, Rector, Royal Institute of Technology
About the FOI in the internal document states: “Partnerships with the FOI sensitive countries is done by KTH. “.
– We are taking a stand in this relationship, in this case China, based on what we believe will benefit KTH, says Peter Gudmundson to” Mission examination. “
– We do not work on behalf of someone else, we will consider a collaboration based on what we see is that it can promote our research.
If export licenses for Edge from the ISP.
– No, I do not think is needed.
If that Edge can be used to develop weapons of mass destruction.
– Yes, you mentioned now, I did not.
– The task I have is that it has been sued by the Armed Forces and the SAAB that it is ok this vidarelicensieringen.
– We have made a preparation here where we have determined that this is within the guidelines are.
Source: SVT / “Mission Review”
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