Approximately 880 million Danish kroner from the Acceleration Fund has been allocated to procure additional ESSM Block 2 missiles, including support equipment. These investments are intended to strengthen the air defence of the Navy’s frigates, responding to a diverse range of threats.
The funding will also cover the expedited acquisition of some of the ESSM missiles that were previously planned for future procurement. This decision is intended to increase the combat readiness of the frigates more swiftly.
Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated, “The Navy’s frigates must be ready to withstand threats on land, at sea, and in the air. Therefore, we allocate funds to purchase more ESSM air defence missiles and acquire them faster, so the Defence’s combat capability increases, and the frigates can better defend themselves against threats such as hostile aircraft, drones, and missiles.”
Chief of Defence Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard emphasised the significance of the procurement, saying, “With additional Sea Sparrow missiles, the Defence gets more of what we need and more of what we already have. Denmark has been involved as a ‘founding partner’ in NATO’s Sea Sparrow project for nearly 60 years. Together with other defence forces, we have continuously contributed to the system’s development based on operational experiences. In short, we are getting a familiar yet cutting-edge system, which is crucial when speed and operational effectiveness matter.”
The funding forms part of the broader effort to strengthen the Danish Armed Forces’ combat capability. As per the Defence Agreement, 50 billion kroner has been earmarked to accelerate the enhancement of defence capabilities, with 25 billion kroner allocated for both 2025 and 2026 from the Acceleration Fund.
Furthermore, a budget of 10 billion kroner per year for the period from 2027 to 2033 has been set aside to address future costs arising from Acceleration Fund decisions. These include new procurements, additional personnel, and infrastructure development.
This latest move follows the initial sub-agreement of the 2024-2033 Defence Settlement, which allocated funds to bolster Denmark’s short-range air defence missile stocks on the Navy’s frigates.
Source: Danish Ministry of Defence.
