Denmark to purchase new drones and counter-drones

Denmark will procure additional drone and counter-drone capabilities in a bid to strengthen its defence and deterrence profile.

The Danish Ministry of Defence (MoD), which announced the purchase on 15 July, says that drones are required by the country to strengthen its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, as well as to engage adversaries.

The drones will be “used widely” across the Danish Armed Forces, while the counter-drone systems will increase the safety of military units.

The MoD has not disclosed the number or type of systems to be procured, the value of the acquisition, the suppliers involved, or a delivery schedule.

However, the MoD said that acquisition, operation, and maintenance costs of the drone and counter-drone systems will be met within its existing budgets. These budgets include funds under the Defence Agreement 2024-2033, signed in June 2023 to commit DKK155 billion (GBP17.69 billion) to Denmark's military, and the February 2025 Agreement on Strengthening the Armed Forces' Combat Power, which provides an additional DKK120 billion.

Procurement priorities

"Experience from the frontline in Ukraine shows very clearly what a large role drones, and the ability to counter them, play on the battlefield," Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus said. The pace of technological development has made it critical for the armed forces to keep up, he added.

The approval follows new procurement priorities for Denmark set out in June. These include cost-effective drone defences, alongside a commitment that defence materiel and software would be "purchased, to a greater extent, from Danish and European companies". A new Defence Industrial Strategy was announced at the same time, but no publication date for it has yet been disclosed.