The Danish Armed Forces are transferring ahead with a large-scale initiative to construct a nationwide ground-based air protection (GBAD) community, the Ministry of Defence introduced this week.
The determination contains the procurement of eight built-in techniques designed to guard civilians, army installations, and important infrastructure from aerial threats.
The new effort follows the March 2025 institution of the Air Defence Wing, which created the structural basis for Denmark’s funding in trendy air and missile protection. Since then, the method has run on two tracks. In June, the federal government accredited an expedited buy of mid-range techniques to offer a right away layer of safety. The newest determination expands the plan with a long-range component.
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According to an announcement from the Ministry of Defence, the Franco-Italian SAMP/T system will function the long-range part. For medium-range protection, Danish forces will use a mix of techniques already acquired or underneath analysis, together with Norway’s NASAMS, Germany’s IRIS-T, and France’s VL MICA. The techniques had been chosen based mostly on operational, monetary, and strategic assessments.
“The present safety atmosphere makes ground-based air protection an absolute prime precedence in rebuilding the Armed Forces,” mentioned Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen. “The expertise from Ukraine exhibits that GBAD performs a essential function in defending civilians from Russian air assaults. I’m due to this fact very happy that we’ve made the choice to take a position closely in extra techniques.”
The Danish Chief of Defence, General Michael Hyldgaard, echoed the necessity for a layered and built-in resolution.
“The warfare in Ukraine clearly demonstrates the necessity for a contemporary GBAD composed of a number of built-in techniques offering multi-layered safety of the airspace. That is the idea Denmark is investing in and now constructing,” Hyldgaard mentioned.
The complete price of procurement and operation is estimated at 58 billion Danish kroner ($9 billion). The acquisitions nonetheless require approval by the Danish Parliament’s Finance Committee.
Lieutenant General Per Pugholm Olsen, head of the Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (FMI), mentioned in an announcement that the selection to depend on a number of suppliers will cut back supply timelines.
“This determination permits us to ascertain a nationwide GBAD functionality as shortly as attainable, supporting fast buildup of Danish army energy,” he mentioned.
Each of the eight techniques will encompass a number of firing items—cell platforms that embody radar, launchers, command parts, and missiles. The ministry famous that the primary operational system is anticipated to be in service later this yr, with extra techniques phased in regularly.
Members of Parliament from throughout the political spectrum welcomed the choice, calling it lengthy overdue. Social Democrat protection spokesperson Simon Kollerup mentioned the transfer will “enable us to shoot down incoming missiles from the bottom earlier than they strike,” calling it “the biggest protection funding in Denmark’s historical past.”
Peter Juel-Jensen of the Venstre occasion described it as “a obligatory funding,” whereas Lise Bech of the Denmark Democrats mentioned the nation had waited too lengthy to ascertain actual air protection capability. Lawmakers from the Conservative Party, the Socialist People’s Party, and others additionally supported the plan, citing the urgency of assembly NATO expectations and making certain nationwide readiness.
Once absolutely deployed, the Danish GBAD community will present short-, medium-, and long-range safety nationwide, able to defending each inhabitants facilities and army targets towards drones, missiles, and plane.
“Denmark will not be at the moment effectively protected towards hostile drone or missile assaults,” mentioned Kollerup. “This funding adjustments that.”
