Norwegian Intelligence Service

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Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS)
Type Government agency
Founded
Headquarters Oslo, Norway
Area served Flag of Norway Norway
Key people (CEO)
Industry Intelligence agency
Revenue ▲ NOK 815 million (2007)
Parent Norwegian Ministry of Defence
Website www.mil.no/etjenesten

Etterretningstjenesten (E-tjenesten) or the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) is a Norwegian military intelligence agency under the Chief of Defence and the Ministry of Defence. The budget for 2006 was NOK 724 million, while the budget proposition for 2007 was NOK 815 million.

The service has operated, or still operates, the following stations, all of them located north of the Arctic Circle:

Kirkenes, Vardø, and Vadsø are close to the Russian border near Severomorsk in the Murmansk district on the Kola Peninsula, the home of the former Soviet Northern Fleet and now its Russian equivalent.

In 1995, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Intelligence Service had operated a stay-behind service in cooperation with the CIA and MI6 since the end of World War II.

[edit] Marjata

The Norwegian intelligence ship, Marjata is a purpose built ELINT ship. Several Marjata's has been used over the years. During the Cold War it was always stationed near the Soviet border and the current Marjata is still operating out of the ports of Finnmark in the Northern part of Norway. The Marjata has always been looked upon as an annoyance by Soviet / Russia and some years ago, Norwegian authorities received criticism because of the ship overlooking the process of lifting the sunken Russian submarine Kursk. The Marjata was also involved in surveillance of what happened during that day of the tragic incident of that submarine. In general, Russia thinks that the ship operates too close to Russia's territorial waters. The Marjata has been called many things, an intelligence ship, an ELINT ship, a research ship and a spy ship. The ship is operated by the Norwegian Intelligence Service and is considered to be one of the most advanced spy ships in the world.

http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article344119 http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2001/04/25/254089.html

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Norwegian Security Services
Police Security Agency Its mission is to detect and identify potential national security threats, analyse their presumed intentions and capabilities, and actively hinder its work.
National Security Authority Its mission is to detect and identify objects of strategic national interest, and reduce their vulnerability.
Intelligence Service Its mission is to collect, analyse and present information from agents and foreign sources that can assist the National Security Authority and the Police Security Agency in achieving their objectives.