France has dispatched a military unit specialized in countering drones to Denmark, and Sweden is preparing a similar deployment, as European allies work to safeguard an informal EU summit in Copenhagen this week from potential aerial threats. This follows recent sightings of unidentified drones in Danish airspace.
According to a statement from France’s Armed Forces Ministry on Monday, the French contingent consists of 35 personnel equipped with a Fennec light helicopter and “active anti-drone capabilities.” Sweden, responding to a request from Denmark, will also send a military unit with drone-defense capabilities, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed during a press briefing in Stockholm.
“The primary goal is to protect the Copenhagen area from unauthorized drone activity and potential attacks for a set period,” Kristersson said in Swedish.
In recent days, Denmark has reported unexplained drone activity near several airports and military sites. The perpetrators remain unknown, though NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte noted last week that Russian involvement cannot be ruled out.
The French deployment was ordered by President Emmanuel Macron, according to the French Armed Forces Ministry. The team is already operational and will coordinate closely with Danish authorities.
“This unit complements the Danish and broader European resources deployed for this event, demonstrating European solidarity in addressing this serious threat,” the ministry added.
Germany has also provided anti-drone equipment to Denmark to strengthen security for the summit, the Danish Ministry of Defence confirmed Sunday. Additionally, the German air-defense frigate Hamburg docked in Copenhagen to support heightened vigilance as part of NATO’s Operation Baltic Sentry.
Sweden is contributing radar systems to improve detection capabilities across a wider area, Kristersson said, noting that the Swedish armed forces worked over the weekend to ensure the equipment was ready for deployment.
With 44 European prime ministers expected in Copenhagen, Denmark has taken the threat of disruptions or potential cancellations very seriously, according to Kristersson.
Denmark currently lacks a ground-based missile defense system, having decommissioned its Hawk missiles two decades ago. The country has been working to acquire air-defense systems from three suppliers to establish an initial operational capability as quickly as possible.
Highlighting the broader security context, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said that recent breaches of European airspace and other incidents illustrate the connection between Russia’s war in Ukraine and wider European security, emphasizing the need to continue countering Russian actions.
Kristersson noted that Russia’s behavior indicates increased risk-taking. While there is no intelligence directly linking the Danish drone incidents to Russia, he stressed that authorities are remaining vigilant.
Finally, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius reported on Friday that plans for a “drone wall” to secure Europe’s eastern borders against UAV incursions have advanced from discussion to concrete implementation.
