Drone Threats in Norway: A Growing Challenge
Norway faces escalating concerns over drone threats to critical infrastructure, as authorities grapple with uncertain sightings near airports, defense facilities, and offshore installations. In a conversation with Dagbladet, Nils Håheim-Saers, an overingeniør (senior engineer) in the drone group at the research institute Norce, warned that the Norwegian state does not fully understand the danger posed by drones. The last week saw reports of drone observations at multiple sites, though it remains unclear whether drones were actually present. Håheim-Saers argues that this lack of clarity confirms a broader failure to enforce sufficiently high preparedness standards.
According to him, two gaps stand out as particularly worrisome. First, owners of critical infrastructure must be required to detect and identify drones and to assist authorities in determining who might be behind the activity. These capabilities should be built into the operations of those responsible for vital facilities through deliberate investments. Second, the police are not yet scaled to handle this form of crime, which blends property crime risk with potential national security implications.
Chinese Drones on the Norwegian Shelf
The first area of concern, cited by Håheim-Saers, concerns how private sector owners safeguard critical infrastructure. A concrete, high-profile example is the use of Chinese drones for surveillance and inspection in the oil and gas sector. Montel News highlighted such systems in use by industry players, including at offshore sites.
Of particular alarm is a claim related to a Chinese drone system showcased by Aker Solutions and deployed by Aker BP at the Edvard Grieg platform in the North Sea. The risk, Håheim-Saers warns, is technical: a Chinese company reportedly holds the encryption key for the radio link between the drone and its base unit. If the authorities or a foreign actor can access that key, they could potentially view every image the drone collects, or even seize control of the drone. He stresses that relying on a system with such vulnerabilities undermines the safety and security of critical infrastructure and offers potential leverage to adversaries.
Dagbladet has reached out to Aker BP for comment, but as of publication they had not responded. This example underscores the call for stricter supplier and technology controls in critical sectors.
Police and Security: Response and Resources
Norwegian authorities face a pressing challenge: how to respond to drone-enabled threats with limited resources. The Norwegian Police Directorate has acknowledged the problem and is expanding anti-drone work, yet it says current resources are insufficient to manage the full security implications of today’s drone landscape. In peacetime, the police bear responsibility for safeguarding critical infrastructure and societal functions from threats that include drones and cyberattacks. The question remains whether the current budget and staffing levels are enough to identify and deter the actors behind drone activity.
In the wake of drone incidents, the PST (police security service) has suggested that Russia’s intelligence services are likely to consider sabotage actions against Norwegian targets this year, with energy infrastructure as a possible objective. Norway is also viewed as a potential intelligence target for China. The evolving threat picture has prompted cooperation with neighboring Denmark, where authorities report signs of a capable actor operating drones near critical sites. Norway has subsequently sent personnel and equipment to assist Danish authorities in their investigations.
Legislation and International Context
Domestically, Parliament debated a proposal in May to ban Chinese drones for state use; the measure was voted down after a rapid shift in the transport committee, leaving government agencies, including the police, among the stakeholders affected by the current framework. The policy debate reflects broader concerns about reliance on foreign technology for critical functions.
On the international stage, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a “dronemur” to shield Europe from Russia, and Norway’s government has signaled interest in joining such a framework with NATO partners. Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik has confirmed that the government intends to explore Norwegian participation in this proposed shield, signaling a move toward closer integration with EU and Alliance-level security efforts.
What Needs to Change
Experts argue that the path forward requires concrete steps to raise the baseline for resilience. This includes obligating owners of critical infrastructure to implement robust drone detection and identification capabilities, ensuring that they can assist law enforcement in attributing drone activity. Investment in detection systems, better coordination between public authorities and operators, and upgraded policing resources are essential to counter a threat that blends crime with national security concerns.
As Norway weighs new intelligence sharing with Ukraine amid the evolving drone threat, the country’s security posture must adapt to a landscape where drones can facilitate surveillance, intrusion, or disruption. The question is not only what information is shared, but how, and with what safeguards, to deter daring adversaries while protecting civilian lives and critical energy infrastructure. The coming months will test whether Norway can align its domestic safeguards with international partnerships and a more robust anti-drone strategy.
