Denmark has entered into an agreement worth over €100 million (approximately US$117 million) to acquire coastal-defense missile systems from Norway-based defense company Kongsberg, as part of efforts to strengthen oversight and protection of its vital coastal zones.
According to Denmark’s Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), the first components of the system are scheduled for delivery in 2026. The purchase includes several coastal missile batteries, each made up of missile launchers and a fire-control unit. DALO did not disclose the precise number of batteries or launchers involved.
The country oversees some of Europe’s most critical maritime corridors, including the Danish Straits—which serve as the primary gateway to the Baltic Sea—as well as sea routes connecting to the North Sea and the North Atlantic. These waterways are central to NATO’s ability to maintain naval dominance, particularly in the context of potential tensions with Russia. The systems acquired will deploy Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile, which has an operational range exceeding 300 kilometers.
DALO stated that the introduction of multiple coastal missile batteries will allow Denmark to assert effective control over its territorial waters within the coming years. The land-based system is designed to engage a broad spectrum of maritime threats, from smaller vessels to larger warships.
The new capability is expected to significantly enhance Denmark’s ability to regulate access to the Danish Straits and the western Baltic Sea. Rear Admiral Søren Kjeldsen, head of the Danish Navy, noted that the coastal-defense batteries will play a key role in reinforcing national deterrence and maritime security.
The procurement was conducted through a direct award to Kongsberg in order to accelerate deployment and achieve operational readiness as quickly as possible. Earlier this year, Denmark also placed an order worth roughly US$200 million for Naval Strike Missiles to be installed on its frigates.
Security concerns in the Baltic region have intensified amid increased Russian military activity, including airspace incursions and suspected interference with subsea infrastructure such as communication cables. In response, NATO and regional partners have expanded surveillance and patrol missions—such as Operation Baltic Sentry—while investing further in air and coastal defense systems.
With this purchase, Denmark becomes the fifth NATO member to adopt Kongsberg’s coastal-defense solution, joining Poland, the United States, Romania, and Latvia. Poland, for example, placed a major order in 2023 for hundreds of Naval Strike Missiles along with associated launch and command systems.
Kongsberg stated that the acquisition will allow Denmark to counter advanced naval threats from shore and will broaden the geographic reach of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System across both the Baltic and North Sea regions. Company President Eirik Lie highlighted the deal as a significant expansion of the system’s operational footprint.
Typically, each coastal-defense battery includes a command-and-control center, up to three mobile launchers—each capable of carrying four missiles—and a maritime surveillance radar chosen by the customer. Kongsberg also noted that up to four batteries can be integrated into a single, networked system through shared data links.
