How much artillery does Denmark have? Right now, surprisingly little. Denmark handed its entire fleet of 19 CAESAR howitzers to Ukraine, and it is still rebuilding its land artillery almost from scratch.
I have lived in Denmark long enough to watch its defense debate flip completely. For decades, Danes treated the army as an afterthought. Then Russia invaded Ukraine, and everything changed fast.
This guide answers a question expats keep asking me. How much artillery does Denmark have, and why does such a rich country field so little of it? Let me walk you through the numbers, the history, and what it means.
How Much Artillery Does Denmark Have? The Short Answer
Denmark currently fields almost no heavy tube artillery of its own. It donated all 19 of its CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine in 2023. Its older M109 guns are retired. Today the army leans on 120mm and 81mm mortars while it scrambles to buy new artillery systems.
That is the honest picture in 2026. The often-quoted figure of 19 modern howitzers describes what Denmark ordered, not what it owns now. The guns are in Ukrainian hands, firing on the front near Kharkiv and Kherson.
A Fleet Given Away: Where Denmark’s Artillery Went
Few NATO members stripped their own arsenal as boldly as Denmark did. In early 2023, the government announced it would send its entire CAESAR fleet east. As reported by Reuters, the decision left Denmark without modern self-propelled guns for years.
I remember the reaction here. Some Danes felt proud. Others, including senior officers, called it reckless to give away everything at once. The move fit a wider pattern of generous Danish aid to Ukraine.
The CAESAR Howitzer
The CAESAR is a French 155mm gun built by Nexter, now part of KNDS. Denmark chose the heavier 8×8 truck version, not the lighter 6×6 model. It can fire at targets beyond 40 kilometers and shoot several rounds before relocating.
Denmark first ordered 15 in 2017, then raised the total to 19. Deliveries had barely finished when the guns were promised to Kyiv. You can read the technical specifications on Army Recognition.
The Retired M109 Howitzers
Before the CAESAR, Denmark relied on the American M109 tracked howitzer for decades. At its Cold War peak, Denmark operated dozens of these 155mm guns. The last upgraded M109A3 variants were withdrawn around 2022.
Some surplus M109 equipment also went to Ukraine. So the gun that once anchored Danish firepower now serves a wartime ally. The arsenal you read about in older articles simply does not exist anymore.
Mortars Still in Service
Mortars are now Denmark’s main organic fire support. The army uses 120mm and 81mm systems within its infantry and mechanized units. The 120mm mortar reaches targets several kilometers away, depending on the round.
Denmark mounts 120mm Cardom mortars on Piranha armored vehicles for mobility. They are useful, but they are not a substitute for long-range howitzers. That gap is exactly what worries Danish commanders today.
Why So Little? Denmark’s Defense Choices Explained
To understand the thin arsenal, you need the political backstory. After the Cold War, Denmark slashed its army and sold off heavy equipment. Politicians preferred expeditionary missions in Afghanistan and Iraq over homeland artillery.
For years, Denmark also held an EU defense opt-out. Voters scrapped it in a 2022 referendum, just months after Russia’s full invasion. That vote signaled a real shift in how Danes view security.
Defense spending stayed low for a long time. Denmark only hit NATO’s 2 percent of GDP target in 2024, well behind schedule. The thin artillery fleet is the direct result of decades of underinvestment.
Rebuilding the Arsenal: Denmark’s New Artillery Plans
Denmark now wants its guns back, and then some. The Ministry of Defence has been hunting for replacement artillery since the donation. Critics, including the Danish military, slammed the slow procurement process.
The pressure is real because the threat feels close. Officials openly warn that Russia could drag Denmark into a Baltic war. The army has also moved to learn directly from Ukraine’s frontline experience with artillery.
Defense Spending and NATO Targets
The money is finally flowing. In 2024, Denmark passed a defense agreement adding roughly 143 billion DKK through 2033. In 2025, a new acceleration fund pushed spending above 3 percent of GDP.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen went further at the NATO Hague summit. She backed a headline goal of 5 percent by 2035, and urged allies to raise defense spending sharply. Some of that cash is earmarked for new air defense and land systems.
Conscription and Personnel
Equipment is only half the story. Denmark fields roughly 20,000 active personnel, plus reserves and the Home Guard. That is small, even by Nordic standards.
So the government is rebuilding manpower too. It extended conscription and, in a major shift, doubled the military draft and included women. As stated by the Danish Ministry of Defence, service time is rising toward 11 months.
Denmark’s Artillery Compared to Its Neighbors
Numbers land harder with context. Denmark looks lean next to Finland, Poland, and even Sweden. Here is a rough snapshot based on open sources like the IISS Military Balance and Global Firepower.
| Country | Self-propelled howitzers (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 0 active | 19 CAESAR donated to Ukraine; replacements pending |
| Sweden | ~48 | Archer 155mm system |
| Finland | 700+ tubes total | Largest artillery park in Western Europe |
| Poland | 600+ | Krab and K9 howitzers, expanding fast |
The contrast is stark. Finland alone fields more artillery than most of Western Europe combined. Denmark, by comparison, is rebuilding from a standing start.
Why Denmark’s Artillery Matters for Expats
You might wonder why any of this touches your life here. It does, more than you would think. Denmark’s security debate now shapes taxes, energy, and even your local infrastructure.
The country faces constant pressure below the threshold of war. Authorities have blamed Moscow for drone incursions and hybrid attacks, and warned of naval threats in Danish waters. Strong artillery is only one piece of a much larger deterrence puzzle.
There is also a strategic geography lesson here. Denmark controls the straits between the Baltic and the North Sea. That position keeps it central to NATO, from the Arctic drills in Greenland to forward deployments in the Baltic states.
My honest read after years here is cautious optimism. Denmark woke up late, but it is moving with real urgency now. Whether the new artillery arrives fast enough is the open question, and analysts who ask whether Russia plans to test NATO are not reassured by the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much artillery does Denmark have right now?
Denmark currently has no active self-propelled howitzers. It donated all 19 CAESAR 155mm guns to Ukraine in 2023 and retired its older M109 fleet. Its main fire support today comes from 120mm and 81mm mortars, while it searches for replacement artillery systems.
Why did Denmark give its howitzers to Ukraine?
Denmark sent its CAESAR fleet to Ukraine to strengthen Kyiv’s war effort against Russia. The government saw it as both solidarity and deterrence. The decision drew praise abroad but criticism at home for leaving Danish forces without modern artillery.
What artillery is Denmark buying to replace the CAESAR?
Denmark is procuring new 155mm artillery as part of its 2024 defense agreement. Several Western and Israeli systems have been considered. The process moved slower than the military wanted, drawing public criticism over the resulting capability gap.
How big is the Danish military overall?
Denmark fields around 20,000 active personnel, plus reserves and a large volunteer Home Guard. It is one of NATO’s smaller forces. The country is now expanding conscription, including for women, to grow those numbers.
How much does Denmark spend on defense?
Denmark reached NATO’s 2 percent of GDP target in 2024 and pushed past 3 percent in 2025. It has committed roughly 143 billion DKK in extra funding through 2033 and backed NATO’s longer-term 5 percent goal.
Does Denmark have nuclear weapons?
No. Denmark does not own nuclear weapons and historically banned them on its soil. However, the security climate has shifted, and Denmark recently reopened parts of its nuclear weapons policy amid fears of Russia.
Why does Denmark’s small artillery force matter for NATO?
Denmark guards the entrance to the Baltic Sea, a vital chokepoint. Its forces support NATO deterrence from the Baltics to the Arctic. A rebuilt artillery arm would close a visible gap in allied land defenses.
How does Denmark compare to Finland or Poland?
Denmark trails badly on artillery numbers. Finland fields hundreds of tubes and Poland is buying Krab and K9 howitzers at scale. Denmark, with zero active howitzers, has the most rebuilding to do among its regional peers.
Sources and References
NATO: Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries Danish Ministry of Defence: Defence Agreements and Procurement Global Firepower: Denmark Military Strength Reuters: Denmark to Donate All CAESAR
