Rising drone threat puts Norway’s critical infrastructure at risk
Norway is facing an escalating drone challenge, with reports of drone sightings near airports, defense sites, and offshore installations. In interviews collected by Dagbladet, Nils Håheim-Saers, a senior engineer in the drone group at the research institute Norce, warns that the Norwegian state may not fully grasp the magnitude of the risk. He argues that current drone preparedness is insufficient and that more robust measures are needed to deter and detect incursions against critical infrastructure.
The last week has seen multiple reports of drone activity near key sites, though it remains to be confirmed whether drones were actually present. Håheim-Saers says this uncertainty underscores a broader failure to set high enough readiness standards for critical infrastructure owners and operators in Norway.
Two critical gaps in preparedness
According to Håheim-Saers, there are two areas where Norway must improve. First, owners of critical infrastructure should be required to detect and identify drones, and to assist law enforcement in determining who is behind a given drone operation. He stresses that such capabilities should be built into ownership and operation models through proactive investments, rather than waiting for a crisis to reveal weaknesses.
Second, he cautions that the police are not currently scaled to handle this form of crime. In a security environment where drones can be used for surveillance, disruption, or even sabotage, the ability to identify threats and respond swiftly is essential to preventing harm to critical facilities.
Chinese drones on the Norwegian shelf and encryption concerns
The first area of concern highlighted by the expert concerns the use of Chinese drones in Norway’s oil and gas sector. Spurred by coverage from Montel News this summer, he points to a notable example where a Chinese drone system was demonstrated by Aker Solutions and subsequently deployed by Aker BP at the Edvard Grieg platform in the North Sea. The risk, he notes, is not merely about drone operations but about data security and control.
Håheim-Saers explains that a Chinese company reportedly holds the encryption keys for the radio link between the drone and its controller. If authorities were to request cooperation or if a foreign power sought to exert control, those keys could be manipulated, potentially allowing interception of information or even taking control of the drone. He argues that such a vulnerability is incompatible with the security needs of critical infrastructure and could be exploited by adversaries to monitor or disrupt operations.
These concerns have drawn scrutiny from Norwegian authorities, and Dagbladet has sought comment from operators like Aker BP, though responses were not provided by press time. The broader point remains: without secure, trusted equipment and vetted suppliers, offshore infrastructure may be exposed to foreign influence or covert access.
Security law, patrol resources, and the national response
Past incidents have pushed security into sharper focus. After the Nord Stream sabotage revelations in 2022, Equinor and Gassco—major players in Norway’s oil and gas system—were brought under the Safety Act, increasing responsibilities for safeguarding critical assets. Avinor, which runs the country’s airports, has also adopted drone-detection systems at Gardermoen and several other hubs, though these measures have not yet provided a definitive answer to this week’s observed activity.
The police present a mixed picture: while they are intensifying anti-drone efforts, they say resources are stretched and that today’s security situation demands more support. Håheim-Saers notes that in peacetime the police are charged with protecting critical infrastructure and societal functions from multi-faceted threats, including drones and cyberattacks. Without strong, well-funded capabilities to identify perpetrators, the question remains whether seemingly minor stunts are just that or precursors to more dangerous actions by state actors.
International context and the drive for a drone barrier
Norway is not isolated. Danish authorities have publicly indicated that a capable actor could be behind drone activity near airports, and Norway has agreed to send personnel and equipment to assist Denmark. In EU circles, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged the creation of a “drone wall” against Russia, a concept that Norway’s defense leadership signs onto as part of broader NATO and regional security cooperation. Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik has confirmed the government’s intent to engage in this initiative, signaling a willingness to align with European security measures.
What Norway can do now
Experts argue that two pragmatic steps could significantly bolster resilience: first, strengthen the obligations on owners and operators of critical infrastructure to detect and identify drones and to assist law enforcement in attribution; second, expand police capacity and resources dedicated to anti-drone operations, including cross-agency coordination and enhanced intelligence sharing. Beyond this, Norway must scrutinize suppliers of drone technology, enforce strict data-security standards, and participate actively in international efforts to establish a coherent, trusted drone ecosystem. The coming months will reveal whether policy and practice converge to close the gaps that Håheim-Saers and others have highlighted, or whether Norway faces a prolonged period of uncertainty in aviation and energy security.
