APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090022-2
based upon the principle that biological material luminesces in the presence of luminolating luminal and upon the identification by gas chromatography of cellular metabolites likely to be present in disseminated samples of agents grown in cell culture. There is no indication that any biological detection system had been fielded.
According to FOA, cloud physics studies related to agent dissemination have clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of the country's coastal areas to BW attack. During Swedish studies on cloud travel, data were obtained concerning aerosol dissemination and sampling technologies. Intensive interest shown at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) concerning problems of chemical and biological warfare insured that Swedish scientists are thoroughly conversant with modern concepts and techniques for both defensive and offensive biological operations.
Swedish scientists are preeminent in the field of bioengineering, a technology which must be mastered if BW agents are to be produced for military applications. Fermentation equipment and related instrumentation of Swedish design and manufacture are of superior quality. A pilot-scale fermentation plant exists at the Royal Caroline Medical-Surgical Institute; other facilities equipped to support process research exist at the Microbiological Laboratory of the Swedish National Defense Laboratory and at the Kabi Company, Stockholm. There is no evidence that Sweden has produced or stockpiled either pathogens or microbial toxins for offensive warfare purposes.
Potential BW agents of tularemia, botulism and of foot-and-mouth disease have been studies in programs which emphasized rapid diagnosis and surveillance procedures, perhaps because these diseases have occurred within the country. A Swedish official has expressed an interest in the problem of stabilizing certain viruses, in particular those existing Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), neither of which has ever occurred in Sweden. Toxins of Clostridium tetanus have been concentrated in a biphasic growth system which would also support the growth and elaboration of a protective antigen from the etiological agent of anthrax. All such studies could contribute data applicable to basic programs characterizing the potential of these various agents for biological warfare purposes.
The Swedish armed forces are not known to possess special organizations for BW purposes, and there is no evidence of any overt military training for such operations. The Royal Swedish Army maintains a chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) school at Solma, near Stockholm, but courses are primarily designed to teach protection against CBR agents for both the individual and small units.
Sweden has an excellent CW research and development capability and is well ahead of other Scandinavian countries in CW research. All aspects are explored by highly qualified scientists at modern, well-equipped facilities and by a vigorous exchange of scientific information at international conferences. The FOA-1 is responsible for most of the CW research.
By virtue of its excellent defensive research and development program, Sweden has acquired much knowledge pertaining to CW offense. Swedish scientists have conducted CW agent research, including synthesis of the G- and V-nerve agents. Researchers feel that there is little possibility of synthesizing a nerve agent more toxic than those already in existence; consequently, they are investigating the possibility of increasing the lipid solubility of the existing nerve agents with a view towards increasing their speed of penetration. The Swedes also are interested in nonphosphorylated systemic poisons, such as galanthamines and carbamates; these substances contain no phosphorus but, like the G- and V-agents, can inhibit cholinesterase. Research has been conducted on natural poisons which could be candidate lethal CW agents. These include bacterial toxins (emphasizing botulinum toxin), marine poisons, and snake venom.
The Swedes apparently feel that the incapacitants show promise as successors to the lethal organophosphorus compounds as CW agents. Researchers have become interested in such compounds as psychochemicals, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25). Several years ago the Swedes conducted studies on glycolate incapacitates. Other incapacitating agents synthesized at FOA-1 were a series of glycolate otters with 3-quinoclidinol as a common moiety.
Processes for the production of nerve agents have been developed, and blueprints for manufacturing agents are available if the country should reverse its policy of maintaining a defensive posture only.
As in the BW field, cloud travel studies related to CW agent dissemination is of concern to Sweden. The cloud characteristics of aerosols disseminated by specific weapons including bombs, shells, and aerial spray devices are studied.
The Swedish detection effort does not differ significantly from the U.S. program, although variations in approach to the problem may produce data of interest. An effort is underway to exploit the
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090022-2
