Danish Navy to receive major upgrade as political parties unite on defense plan

The Danish Government and the Danish Democrats, the Socialist People’s Party, Liberal Alliance, the Conservative People’s Party, the Danish People’s Party, and the Social Liberal Party have entered into an agreement under the Danish Defence Agreement 2024-2033 to strengthen the Danish Navy. 

In response to evolving maritime threats and rapid technological advancements, the agreement marks a major step in modernizing the Royal Danish Navy and enhancing maritime security across the country.

Denmark plans to significantly boost its naval capabilities with a DKK 4 billion ($608 million) investment under the new defense plan, which was announced earlier by Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

The initiatives include: 

– Capacity for strengthened surveillance of critical marine infrastructure in the form of a vessel, drones, and sonar systems to monitor and identify unauthorized underwater activity;
– Four marine environment and mine-laying vessels for military tasks, such as surveillance above and under the sea surface, training personnel, and mine-laying, as well as environmental tasks, such as chemical and oil clean-ups;
– Underwater drones and other autonomous units that enable the Royal Danish Navy to intensify surveillance above and under the sea surface;
– 21 new vessels for the Marine Home Guard, which will perform tasks in close cooperation with the Royal Danish Navy, including maritime surveillance, port security, rescue activities, marine environment tasks, and host nation support.

Decisions on capabilities in the form of larger navy vessels, such as frigates, will be decided in a following partial agreement.

As the specifics of these acquisitions will be set out in a forthcoming partial agreement, a working initiative has now been launched to explore possibilities for cooperation with NATO allies and Danish industry, e.g. on manufacturing. 

Acquisitions such as additional arctic vessels will be decided in a following partial agreement made in collaboration with the Government of the Faroe Islands and Greenland’s Naalakkersuisut, it was added.

“With the agreement on the Navy Plan, we are initiating a range of urgent acquisitions to ensure the Danish Defence at sea can counter these threats,” said Minister for Defence Poulsen. 

“The Royal Danish Navy’s current fleet of frigates has another 10 good years of operation in it yet. Therefore, we are exhibiting due care with this agreement on a new Navy Plan, which will provide an informed basis before we make a decision on acquiring Danish frigates. That decision will be wise to make after NATO’s capability targets have been finalized in June. Then we can then decide what we will acquire and how,” he added.

“Building the combat power of the Danish Armed Forces, including our naval capacities, is vital. We are fulfilling this task – and fighting with what we have. And now the Danish Armed Forces will have more to fight with. The military expert recommendations of the Danish Armed Forces are clearly reflected in the fleet plan,” stated Chief of Defence Michael W. Hyldgaard.