Denmark Moves to Strengthen Coastal Defense with New Missile Batteries

Funding has been allocated for Denmark’s purchase of coastal missile batteries to enhance the protection of Danish waters, the Ministry of Defence announced on April 26.

The move, financed through the Acceleration Fund on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence, will provide the Danish Armed Forces with a new capability to control key maritime access points. The batteries will enable coverage from Denmark’s extensive coastal stretches, strengthening security across internal waters and entry routes to the Baltic Sea.

"One of the Danish Armed Forces’ core tasks is to maintain control and freedom of action in the Danish waters, which constitute the access routes to the Baltic Sea," said Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen. "With coastal missile batteries, we will increase the Danish Armed Forces’ combat power considerably, because the Danish internal waters can be covered from our many coastal stretches, and this will be absolutely crucial in the current security policy situation."

The acquisition, part of broader efforts to boost military readiness, will enhance Denmark’s ability to manage ship movements in strategically important areas such as the Danish straits and the western Baltic Sea. However, implementation will depend on equipment availability, recruitment of personnel, and possibly temporary solutions, making the timeline for full operational capability uncertain.

The project is backed by the Acceleration Fund, which dedicates DKK 50 billion ($7.6 billion) to rapidly build up the Danish Armed Forces’ combat power, with DKK 25 billion allocated for both 2025 and 2026. An additional DKK 10 billion is set aside annually from 2027 to 2033 to cover ongoing expenses related to new acquisitions, infrastructure, and personnel expansion.