Denmark is moving away from building its own warships entirely from scratch, instead looking to major European shipbuilders to deliver new frigates either as completed vessels or as partially assembled kits finished in Frederikshavn. A former rear admiral calls the shift sensible, saying a Danish shipbuilding revival based solely on limited defense orders has no chance of success.
European Shipbuilders Lead the Race
Four major European countries are positioned to deliver new ships to the Danish Navy, according to information obtained by DR. The vessels would arrive either as battle-ready ships or as assembly kits that would be completed wholly or partially in Frederikshavn under foreign supervision.
Torben Ørting Jørgensen, a former rear admiral in the Navy and current chairman of the organization Folk og Sikkerhed, welcomes the apparent shift away from building everything domestically. Reviving a Danish shipbuilding industry based on the military’s infrequent orders simply isn’t realistic, he argues.
The approach now being pursued makes sense, according to Jørgensen. Earlier this year in February, the Ministry of Defense announced in a press release that upcoming Arctic ships would be built throughout Denmark and assembled at a new state-owned facility in Frederikshavn. That facility would also be capable of producing larger vessels than Arctic ships in the future, meaning frigates.
Minister Acknowledges Limitations
After visiting a shipyard in the Scottish city of Rosyth in December, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen admitted to Berlingske that Denmark cannot build its own frigates entirely on its own, despite previous ambitions. The minister’s comments marked a significant departure from earlier plans.
Jørgensen advocates for choosing the fastest solution and following Norway’s example when they placed their frigate order in England. The strategy should focus on securing maximum Danish production through subcontractors for the ships, regardless of whether they’re built in Singapore, France, or elsewhere.
When asked whether co-production necessarily requires an assembly facility in Frederikshavn or Odense, Jørgensen’s answer is clear. Not at all. Instead, Denmark should ensure that its skilled network of maritime subcontractors gets a piece of the contract and becomes chosen as suppliers for Danish projects.
Calls for Broader Competition
Beyond the December visit to the United Kingdom, the minister and defense agreement parties plan to visit shipyards in both Germany and France in early March. Spain also stands ready to build new frigates for Denmark.
According to Jørgensen, the field of potential builders looks too narrow. He would have preferred seeing more Asian countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Japan in the running. These nations should definitely be included in the picture, he insists. The one place he’s certain Denmark shouldn’t build is the United States, where the shipbuilding industry remains outdated and cannot produce within appropriate timeframes or at competitive prices.
NATO Requirement Called Unwise
The fleet plan presented nearly a year ago states that Denmark primarily looks toward a NATO member for ship construction. When confronted with the argument that political agreement texts specify working with a NATO country, Jørgensen responds bluntly. That requirement is impractical and foolish. Ships should obviously be built wherever Denmark gets the most value for its money.
Considering the equipment involved, he cannot imagine the vessels won’t carry a significant European and Danish fingerprint regardless of where they’re assembled. Denmark controls those decisions, including choosing weapon types, sensors, drones, and other equipment. These components can come from anywhere, including Ukraine or other countries that have proven their expertise and capability in these areas.
Gradual Domestic Production Possible
The European bidders are all prepared to build some frigates or assemble them in Denmark eventually, according to DR’s information. One solution could involve building the first ships abroad while Denmark prepares for the demanding task. The German bidder has even expressed interest in taking over one-third of the tunnel element factory in Rødby currently used for the Femern Belt tunnel project and converting it into a shipyard.
The potential frigate order could become one of the largest defense procurements in Danish history. Meanwhile, Denmark has been strengthening its military capabilities in response to rising security threats.
The discussion reflects broader questions about Denmark’s defense industrial base and the balance between building domestic capacity and securing value through international cooperation. At the same time, practical considerations about delivery times, costs, and technological capabilities are weighing heavily on decision makers.
For now, the path forward appears to prioritize getting capable ships into service quickly while gradually building Danish involvement through subcontractors and eventual assembly work. Whether this approach will satisfy both strategic and political objectives remains to be seen as the procurement process continues.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Denmark Invests in Defence in the Face of Rising Threats
The Danish Dream: Denmark Deploys 100-Strong Arctic Drone Army
DR: Skibbygningscentral i Danmark har ‘ingen gang på jord’, siger forhenværende kontreadmiral
