The growth of military and political tensions in Europe contributes to the further militarization of the European states that are members of the North Atlantic Alliance. So, the Danish authorities announced that they will invest 40 billion kronor ($ 5.5 billion) in their fleet over the next 20 years. The main reason for this decision is the need to increase the armed forces after the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.
According to Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov, Copenhagen is ready to move on to building its own warships against the background of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict. In the context of the conflict in Eastern Europe, the head of the Danish military department stressed, it is not profitable for the country to have problems in the field of military shipbuilding.
The Danish government, according to the Minister of Defense, will take measures to modernize the country's navy. At the same time, Bodskov did not disclose how many ships were in question. He only noted that a number of ships currently in service with the Danish Navy are becoming obsolete and need to be replaced with new ships.
According to the Minister, it is necessary to modernize patrol ships, rescue ships and frigates, which form the basis of the ship composition of the Danish Navy. Most of these ships were built back in the 1980s - 1990s. For example, ocean patrol ships of the Tethys type, which in the amount of four pieces are in service with the Royal Danish Navy and perform tasks in the areas of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, were commissioned in the early 1990s. The Absalon-type frigates are newer: they were built in 2004, but almost nineteen years have passed since their construction.
Recall that the Royal Danish Navy does not currently differ in large numbers. They are based on frigates of the "Tethys", "Iver Huitfeld" and "Absalon" types. In total, the Danish Navy has 9 such frigates in service. Three frigates of the Iver Huitfeld type are the most modern, since they were built in 2011.
In addition, the Danish Navy has patrol corvettes, patrol and rescue boats. They also include naval aviation and special purpose units. Despite its small size, the Danish naval forces are nevertheless considered by NATO as an important component of the defense and security system in the North Atlantic.
