Project Simoom was the name of a business case involving the
Swedish Defence Research Agency
The Swedish Defence Research Agency ( sv, Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut, FOI; literal translation: ''Total Defence Research Institute'') is a government agency in Sweden for defence research.
FOI has its headquarters in Kista (Stockholm). ...
(FOI) and
Saudi Arabia, which aimed to build a propellant and explosives factory in Saudi Arabia to modify
anti-tank weapon systems Details about the project were revealed to the public on 7 March 2012 by investigative journalists
Daniel Öhman and
Bo-Göran Bodin at the Swedish
public radio
Public broadcasting involves radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing ...
broadcaster
Sveriges Radio
Sveriges Radio AB (, "Sweden's Radio") is Sweden's national publicly funded radio broadcaster. Sveriges Radio is a public limited company, owned by an independent foundation, previously funded through a licensing fee, the level of which is d ...
. The project was criticized for constituting a possible breach of Swedish arms trade laws, and for its secretive nature. It resulted in the resignation of Defence Minister
Sten Tolgfors
Sten Sture Tolgfors (born 17 July 1966 in Forshaga) is a Swedish former politician, public affairs executive and government official who is serving as Governor of Västra Götaland County since 1 September 2022, having been appointed to the pos ...
on 29 March 2012 and in FOI ending its participation in the project.
References
External links
Swedish public radio- Timeline and documents in Swedish and English
Foreign relations of Sweden
Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia
Military of Sweden
Military history of Saudi Arabia
Code names
Military projects
Secret military programs
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