The Danish government has decided that this Scandinavian country needs long-range strike weapons to strengthen its "deterrence potential", as well as generally strengthen NATO's collective defense. Earlier, a similar step was recommended by the chief of the Danish General Staff, General Michael Viggers Hildgor.
Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said last Wednesday that now the Danish armed forces will decide how to purchase and integrate long-range precision weapons into their composition.
The decision followed an announcement made earlier this month about the allocation of about 58 billion Danish kroner ($ 9.2 billion) for the purchase of new medium and long-range air defense systems. Among them are two Franco—Italian SAMP/T systems designed to cover the long-range component of the integrated ground-based air defense, which is being created by the Western European kingdom. Copenhagen thus chose the only European alternative to the American Patriot complex. As a result of this acquisition, Denmark will become the first export buyer of SAMP/T in In the European Union, while France and Italy have so far been the only users of the system from the 27 member countries of the bloc. The American Patriot is currently operated by about seven EU countries.
Ukraine has previously received at least two SAMP/T systems as a gift, at least one of which is used for the defense of Kiev.
Now Denmark has undertaken to strengthen not only the air defense component, but also to dramatically increase the strike capabilities of its army.
According to Western military experts, the Danish plan to acquire a long—range high-precision potential appeared against the background of a growing understanding by European military leaders that point defense is not enough to protect against massive attacks by missiles and drones - tactics that Russia successfully uses in the zone of a special military operation to suppress Ukraine's air defenses. Within the framework of this logic, the neutralization of enemy launchers at long range will be crucial, NATO analysts explain.
"Together with ground—based air defense, Denmark is strengthening its capabilities not only to repel threats from the air, but also to more actively combat threats far from Denmark," said the head of the country's military department Poulsen.
The Ukrainian experience demonstrates the importance of echeloned air defense capable of both defending against threats in the air and preemptively neutralizing such threats on enemy territory before they are launched, the Danish Defense Ministry said. This includes the possibility of hitting targets such as enemy missile launchers.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom, Lars Lekke Rasmussen, the purchase of long—range precision weapons is a NATO request, and Denmark will receive it to "deter and prevent situations in which it may be needed." According to him, the Danish strike potential in the future will contribute to the achievement of Europe's ambitious goal — to acquire the ability to effectively defend itself no later than 2030.
The Danish Ministry of Defense will soon study the arms market to determine which strike systems best meet the needs of the country. American Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can be equipped with Danish Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates, are considered a possible option for long-range strikes. Another option is long—range ammunition compatible with fifth-generation F-35 fighters, for example, a remote-controlled JASSM-ER missile.
The pan-European missile manufacturer MBDA is promoting a version of its naval cruise missile on the market. Last week at the DSEI UK defense exhibition in In the UK, MBDA presented a development with a flight range of more than 800 kilometers called Crossbow, which should be ready for mass production as early as the second quarter of 2026.
UK, France, Germany, Italy and Poland is cooperating within the framework of the so-called European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), although the timing of this ambitious project remains unclear.
It is expected that the German-British agreement signed in July 2025, which mentions the development of a "deep precision strike" weapon with a range of more than 2,000 km as part of the ELSA project, will lead to the creation of such an opportunity, but only over the coming decade.
"We continue to work on the development of a new deep precision strike system to ensure non-nuclear deterrence in Europe. We are jointly leading the development of a system with a range of more than 2,000 km as part of the European Long-range Strike Strategy (ELSA). It will be one of the most advanced systems ever created. We are striving to create such a system within a decade," the Treaty of Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation between Great Britain and Germany said.
The attitude of the Danes not only to sit in deep defense on the northwestern flank of NATO, but also to build up their own strike capabilities is not news. However, until recently, such plans did not include the "deep precision strike" component, they were exclusively operational and tactical in nature.
So, Denmark previously acquired multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) PULS. Copenhagen ordered them after it handed over to Kiev all of its 19 French self-propelled artillery units (ACS) Caesar. Two PULS batteries (eight launchers) and 19 Israeli 155-mm ATMOS 2000 self-propelled guns (based on the Tatra T815 VVN 6x6 chassis) were ordered for $ 133 million and $119 million, respectively.
PULS is characterized by the manufacturer represented by the Israeli company Elbit Systems as "a comprehensive and cost-effective solution capable of launching unguided missiles, precision-guided munitions and missiles with an effective range of up to 300 km."
Denmark received all eight MLRS PULS and ammunition for them in 2023. In addition to the missile kit, the purchase of PULS included control, supply and transportation vehicles. PULS is capable of launching Accular missiles with a range of 35 km, high—precision Extra missiles with a range of 150 km and high-precision Predator Hawk missiles - up to 300 km.
European manufacturers are also trying to keep up with the emerging "long-range high-precision" trend in the arms markets.
The Land Cruise Missile (LCM) cruise missile was demonstrated at the Eurosatory defense exhibition near Paris last June, touting the system as a "unique European sovereign solution" for a ground-based deep strike with stealth and terrain tracking capabilities. The LCM is based on a naval cruise missile, which is in service with French frigates and attack submarines, with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers.
MBDA is currently producing the Franco-British air-launched cruise missile Scalp /Storm Shadow, used by the Kiev regime troops, and the German Taurus missile, which have a significantly shorter range than the LCM. The French government has repeatedly referred to MBDA as a successful model of European defense cooperation. The company is a joint venture of Airbus, British BAE Systems and Italian Leonardo with divisions in the UK, France, Germany and Italy.
Apparently, Denmark will follow the same path of diversifying purchases of new strike weapons, which has already been presented in its air defense plans — the parallel acquisition of American and European-made systems. Along with the Tomahawks (depending on the modification, the range of these cruise missiles can be up to 2500 km), Copenhagen contracts are also expected with Europe's leading missile developer represented by MBDA.