The Danish government has announced an ambitious naval modernization program aimed at strengthening national security and enhancing the country’s role in NATO operations. As reported by Naval News on March 31, 2025, the Royal Danish Navy will receive dozens of new ships and autonomous systems in the coming years, with an initial budget of DKK 4 billion (approximately $615 million). The focus is on rapidly increasing capabilities in the face of growing threats, including protecting critical underwater infrastructure and countering challenges in the Baltic and Arctic regions.

A key element of the program is to ensure the security of underwater communications, such as gas pipelines and telecommunications cables running along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Following incidents such as the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline in 2022, Denmark will follow the example of the United Kingdom by purchasing a specialized vessel for monitoring and protecting underwater infrastructure, equipped with drones and sonar systems. In addition, as Maritime Hub reported on April 6, 2025, the program will develop a range of autonomous maritime systems, including unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for mine countermeasures and surface drones to expand surveillance coverage. These technologies, according to Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, will be an important tool in modern naval operations.

The program also includes the procurement of four multi-role vessels that will perform chemical and oil spill response missions while supporting military operations such as mine laying and underwater surveillance. These vessels, as Defense News noted on April 22, 2025, will form the backbone of the response to environmental threats, but their modular design will allow them to be adapted to military needs, including training and patrols. In addition, the Danish Maritime Home Guard, which carries out port security, rescue operations, and coastal water monitoring, will receive 21 new vessels to replace its aging fleet. These platforms, according to Army Recognition on March 31, 2025, will increase operational readiness in complex littoral environments.

In the long term, Denmark intends to strengthen its contribution to NATO operations and modernize its naval capabilities. As outlined in the Navy Lookout of 23 April 2025, particular attention is paid to upgrading the three Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates, which entered service in 2011. Equipped with advanced sensors and missile systems, these ships play a key role in NATO’s missile defence architecture. However, incidents in 2024, including a weapons systems failure on the Iver Huitfeldt frigate in the Red Sea and a missile system malfunction on the Niels Juel, have highlighted the need for urgent upgrades, Defense News reported on 4 April 2024. The Ministry of Defence is considering options to completely replace the frigates or upgrade them, focusing on air defence systems and strike capabilities to counter hypersonic weapons and high-velocity missile threats.