Denmark’s Minister of Defense, Troels Lund Poulsen, announced that the country is evaluating the purchase of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the United States with the aim of strengthening surveillance in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The acquisition, which could involve an investment of several billion dollars, is part of the Danish government’s plans to significantly increase its military capabilities.
“I would prefer that we cooperate with other NATO countries to get the most value for our money and have a greater degree of flexibility. But if that proves impossible, then I am also willing to accept that we will have to acquire this P-8 aircraft capability on our own,” Poulsen stated in a communication to Reuters.
The information was initially reported by the Danish media outlet TV2. The Ministry of Defense, for now, has not specified how many aircraft could be acquired nor the exact figure of the operation. Any purchase must be approved by Parliament.
Poulsen warned that the level of threat in the Arctic is increasing and that it is necessary to obtain a clearer view of movements around Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both autonomous territories under Danish sovereignty. In the past, state vessels from Russia and China have appeared unexpectedly in waters near Greenland. Both Moscow and Beijing have denied having plans to enter the region.
The Danish Armed Forces currently operate Bombardier Challenger 600 aircraft, which are originally business jets but have been modified to support patrol activities, albeit with limited performance. For this reason, the Danish government is highly interested in the P-8A Poseidon, which must not only monitor the airspace and waters of continental Denmark, but also of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
The interest in the P-8A Poseidon is part of a broader Danish military modernization strategy. The government has announced a defense investment of 7.869 billion euros, which includes the acquisition of European air defense systems, among them the long-range SAMP/T and NASAMS. According to authorities, this is an “urgent measure to protect the civilian population” in the context of the war in Ukraine.
The plan foresees that the first air defense system will enter into operation before the end of the year, while the others will be deployed gradually. In addition, mandatory military service has been extended from four to eleven months and now also includes women, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
*Images for illustrative purposes
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