No more frigates for now: Here is the government's fleet plan
In light of a changed threat landscape and technological developments, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (V) has finally presented the government's proposal for a new naval plan aimed at strengthening Denmark's maritime capabilities.
The navy’s current fleet of frigates still has 10 good years left Troels Lund Poulsen, Minister of Defence
The Ministry of Defence writes this in a press release.
The plan focuses on the protection of critical infrastructure, improving the marine environment, and enhancing combat strength. Additionally, it includes a long-term perspective, preparing for decisions on the construction of new frigates and the development of shipbuilding capacity.
The defense minister emphasizes the need to begin renewing the navy's vessels:
- The maritime battlefield is characterized by a more complex risk and threat picture than before, rapid technological advancements, and a Russia that has become more willing to escalate its course against the West. Therefore, with this naval plan, we are initiating several urgent acquisitions to address specific challenges and threats that we face now and in the coming years, says Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
The government's proposal for the fleet plan
The government's proposal for the naval plan focuses on five key areas:
- Protection of critical infrastructure: Emphasis on surveillance and securing Danish waters.
- Marine environmental preparedness: Investment in new ships for handling oil and chemical pollution.
- Naval military capacity: Upgrading the defense fleet to ensure increased combat strength.
- Long-term investments: Preparations for decisions regarding new frigates and shipbuilding capacity.
- Rapid acquisitions: Measures to address current threats in the near future.
Source: Ministry of Defense
Short and long term vision
The naval plan is part of the government's broader strategy to strengthen Denmark’s defense and security in the coming years. The minister's proposal is divided into short-term and long-term tracks.
In the short term, urgent acquisitions will be made—such as four new environmental vessels—to counter current threats. In the long term, decisions will be prepared regarding the construction of new frigates and the development of shipbuilding capacity.
Denmark has a strong position within the maritime industry, and this should be leveraged, the ministry writes in the statement. Therefore, it must be explored whether—and how—some of the ships should be produced in Denmark, or at least with a significant footprint in Denmark.
New military units in the long term
The government has identified three main areas for the long-term rearmament of the Danish Navy:
Air defense frigates: The frigates are the backbone of the Danish fleet. The government will begin replacing the Navy’s frigates, starting with air defense frigates.
Arctic ships: With Delaftale 1 on the Arctic and North Atlantic, it was decided to acquire three Arctic ships. The government plans to acquire additional Arctic ships to strengthen operations in the Arctic region.
Icebreaker capacity: An analysis will be conducted to determine whether Denmark, in collaboration with other nations, can enter into a partnership for icebreaker capacity.
Source: Ministry of Defence
However, there is no immediate rush to acquire heavier military capacities for the navy:
- The navy’s current fleet of frigates still has 10 good years left. Therefore, it is wise to take the time to create an informed basis for decisions on upcoming acquisitions, including the next generation of Danish frigates. I look forward to discussing the entire content of the naval plan with the parties behind the defense agreement, says Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen in the press release.
In addition to the four environmental vessels, the government is also considering acquiring 21 new vessels for the maritime home guard and several unspecified "drones and other unmanned units" in the short term.
