Norway puts NASAMS air-defense sensors in Kirkenes, 7 kilometers from Russia, to catch stray drones

Norway's air force is deploying NASAMS air-defense sensors in Kirkenes, in Finnmark near the Russian border, and adding just over 30 soldiers to the Sør-Varanger garrison through the end of the year, the Defense Ministry announced Tuesday.

"We have seen in other countries that drones go astray. This is something Norway takes seriously. We must be prepared, even if we do not see an elevated air threat against Norway or the population of Finnmark now," Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik said. "The experience from Ukraine shows how important it is to have a good overview and receive early warning."

The government says the move is preventive and not tied to a specific threat. The regional governor's office was more specific: Russian GPS jamming in the north could send Ukrainian drones aimed at the Kola Peninsula toward Norway. If a stray drone threatens lives, police will send an emergency alert to phones in the area, and people should take cover in basements or stairwells, the office said. A test alert will go out once the system is running.