Through the official public procurement platform of the European Union, the Danish government has announced its intentions to acquire new NSM anti-ship missiles, manufactured by Norway’s Kongsberg company. The main objective of this procurement process is to replace the U.S.-made Harpoon missiles, which, along with their launch systems, were transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

During the first frantic months of 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February, Denmark—like many European countries—became one of Ukraine’s key supporters. In that initial phase, Denmark’s first demonstrations of support for Ukraine included the confirmation of the transfer of coastal defense batteries based on RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles.

This transfer, announced by then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, aimed to strengthen Ukraine’s naval strike capabilities in the Black Sea, making it more difficult for Russian Navy ships to operate near the coastline.

As with many other military aid packages, the provision of Harpoon missiles resulted in a reduction of Denmark’s own combat capabilities. According to information from the EU procurement platform, the Danish government now seeks to restore these capabilities through the acquisition of new NSM anti-ship missiles.

According to a publication issued on February 14, the Danish government, through the Ministry of Defense’s Acquisition and Logistics Organization, intends to enter into a Government-to-Government contract with Norway for the acquisition of NSM missiles from Kongsberg. The contract is estimated to be valued between 900 million and 1.5 billion Danish kroner.

The document further states: “… there is a legal basis for acquiring these missiles through a Government-to-Government contract with Norway, as this is considered the best option to meet the needs of the Armed Forces,” adding, “… the NSM missiles meet the interoperability requirements of the Armed Forces with allied nations.”

While many details remain undisclosed, the start of negotiations and the eventual signing of a contract for an unspecified number of missiles is expected to equip the Royal Danish Navy’s Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates. These vessels are reportedly about to undergo a mid-life upgrade. However, other platforms in service could also be equipped with the new anti-ship missiles if needed.

Another lingering question is whether, considering the coastal defense role of the RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II, the Danish government and Armed Forces might pursue the acquisition of land-based NSM launch systems, similar to those procured by Poland. Known as Coastal Defense System (CDS) batteries, the Polish government has confirmed the purchase of ten such launch systems as part of a broader acquisition of 500 new missiles from Norway.

As for the NSM, it is a fifth-generation anti-ship missile designed to engage targets at distances of up to 200 kilometers. Initially developed by Kongsberg for the Royal Norwegian Navy, it is a highly precise and mobile weapon, equipped with an active radar seeker and an inertial guidance system.

Currently, various major naval forces are adopting the NSM as a replacement for the U.S.-made Harpoon missiles. Among them, the Royal Navy is equipping its Type 23 frigates with NSMs as a temporary solution until a new anti-ship missile is selected. Likewise, the Spanish Navy plans to install them on its new F-110 frigates, currently under construction by Navantia. Lastly, the U.S. Armed Forces are also integrating NSMs into ships and land-based launch platforms, as seen with the U.S. Marine Corps.

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