Latest news with #DanishArmedForces
Euractiv
01-07-2025
- Health
- Euractiv
Denmark introduces mandatory conscription for women amid growing threat from Russia
Denmark is ramping up military spending and begins including women in compulsory military service as of 1 July in a bid to bolster its defence against the growing threat from Russia. All those turning 18 after 1 July 2025 will be eligible for possible conscription into the Danish Armed Forces. Until now, this has been limited to men, although women were allowed to volunteer. In Denmark, a lottery system determines who gets drafted: each eligible conscript draws a number from a tombola. If the number is lower than the required number of conscripts not covered by volunteers, it means putting on a uniform. The country's centrist government, the Greens and most of the conservative opposition agreed on the changes in April last year, today they came into force – coinciding with the day Denmark takes over the rotating EU council presidency. The new rules should help Denmark address "the current security situation", Colonel Kenneth Strøm, head of the conscription programme, told AP. They include an extension of conscription duration from four to eleven months, with plans to train 6,500 conscripts annually from 2033 – a 40% increase on current figures. At the moment, the nation of 6 million has 9,000 professional troops. The new rules also make it easier for individuals with diabetes and ADHD. If need be, the Danish defence minister has the authority to deploy conscripts abroad. Among the Nordic countries, Denmark is the last of the three to include women in the mandatory conscription process. Norway made similar changes in 2013 and Sweden followed suit in 2017. Denmark has been one of the biggest donors of aid to Ukraine, with allocations of 9.5 billion euros – which is around 2.6% of the country's GDP. (vib)
Euronews
25-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
This crewless ship is defending Denmark's and NATO's waters
As maritime tensions have increased since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Denmark is investing big in defence tech. The Danish Armed Forces has announced it is deploying four uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), dubbed 'Voyagers,' to boost surveillance capacity in under-monitored waters. They will be patrolling in Danish and NATO waters in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea for three months, according to the Danish Armed Forces. 'The security situation in the Baltic is tense, and therefore it has been decided by Danish parliament and the Danish government to improve the capabilities of Danish defence, and this includes the maritime domain and of course this includes our maritime domain awareness,' said Kim Jørgensen, the director of the Danish National Armaments. Powered by solar and wind energy, they can operate autonomously for months at sea. Drones are mounted on these 10-meter-long vessels and artificial intelligence (AI) helps analyse data of the surrounding environment under and above the surface of the ocean using advanced sensors. "So, the vehicles [work] like a truck. The truck carries the sensors and we use on-board sophisticated machine learning and AI to fuse that data to give us a full picture of what's above and below the surface," said Richard Jenkins, the founder and CEO of Saildrone, the company that makes the ships. The firm said the autonomous sailboats can support operations such as illegal fishing detection, border enforcement, and strategic asset protection. Denmark invests big in defence According to a report published in 2024 from the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, EIFO, one of the country's investment agendas lies in defence in light of the new geopolitical landscape. The unmanned surface vehicles were purchased through a $60 million (€51,70 million) investment round led by EIFO. The four Voyagers will be first in operation for a three-month trial, as Denmark and NATO allies aim at extending maritime presence, especially around critical undersea infrastructure such as fibre optic cables and power lines. NATO and its allies have increased sea patrolling following several incidents, such as the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage in 2022, the Balticconnector gas pipeline burst in 2023, and undersea cable damage in the Baltic Sea in 2024. Its developer, Saildrone, is establishing its European headquarters and operational hub in Denmark's capital, Copenhagen. The American company says the new subsidiary will be the hub for all European operations. For more on this story, watch the video in the media player above.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AV and UAS Denmark Establish Strategic Partnership to Advance Allied UAS Capabilities in Europe
ARLINGTON, Va., June 18, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AeroVironment, Inc. ("AV") (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hans Christian Andersen Aiport in Odense, Denmark–home to the UAS Denmark Test Center–to explore joint utilization of the center's expansive airspace and advanced test facilities. The agreement aims to leverage UAS Denmark's strategic range and infrastructure to support AV's uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) demonstration operations, mission training, and customer integration activities across the region. The collaboration is expected to enable joint research and development (R&D) initiatives and accelerate the growth of the UAS Denmark Test Center as a regional epicenter for advanced UAS innovation, evaluation, and operational readiness. "This MOU represents a significant milestone in expanding AV's operational footprint in Europe," said Shane Hastings, AV's vice president and general manager of Medium UAS. "Our partnership with UAS Denmark positions us to deliver enhanced capabilities, mission-critical training, and integrated UAS solutions to allied defense forces and government stakeholders across the region." This agreement follows AV's February 2025 Framework Agreement with the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), under which AV is delivering advanced UAS, operator and maintainer training, and lifecycle support to strengthen the Danish Armed Forces' intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The MOU with UAS Denmark builds on this momentum and reinforces AV's commitment to delivering tactical advantage through scalable, reliable, and combat-proven UAS platforms. By formalizing this collaboration, AV continues to expand its international partnerships and operational support capabilities—ensuring allied forces have access to the tools and training required to maintain readiness in dynamic environments. ABOUT AEROVIRONMENT, INC. AeroVironment ("AV") (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The company develops and deploys autonomous systems, precision strike systems, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today's warfighter and tomorrow's conflicts. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities with speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information visit: ABOUT UAS DENMARK TEST CENTER Located at Hans Christian Andersen Airport in Odense, the UAS Denmark Test Center is one of Europe's leading hubs for drone testing, development, and innovation. With access to a dedicated BVLOS airspace, state-of-the-art facilities, and a collaborative ecosystem of government, academia, and industry, the center supports the advancement of cutting-edge unmanned technologies. For more information, visit: SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACT Ashley YoungAeroVironment+1.703.418.2828pr@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Washington Post
16-06-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
Denmark tests unmanned robotic sailboat fleet with tensions high in the region
KOGE MARINA, Denmark — From a distance they look almost like ordinary sailboats, their sails emblazoned with the red-and-white flag of Denmark . But these 10-meter (30-foot) -long vessels carry no crew and are designed for surveillance. Four uncrewed robotic sailboats, known as 'Voyagers,' have been put into service by Denmark's armed forces for a three-month operational trial.
Business Wire
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Saildrone Closes $60M Financing to Bring Maritime Autonomy to Europe
COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Saildrone, the global leader in maritime autonomy, today announced the closing of a $60 million investment round led by EIFO, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark. The investment will be used to bring Saildrone technology to Europe to address the urgent need for maritime security for critical infrastructure and wider defense applications. "Our goal is to provide 24/7, year-round coverage for all critical infrastructure within the Baltic and North Sea, safeguarding these highly valuable installations for current and future generations." – Saildrone founder and CEO Richard Jenkins Share The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats, and the need for persistent maritime domain awareness has never been greater. Saildrone's extreme endurance unmanned surface vehicles utilize sophisticated sensors, combined with proprietary AI algorithms, to give a full picture of the maritime environment above and below the sea surface. 'I am thrilled to partner with EIFO and the Danish government to establish Saildrone's European headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark,' said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone's founder and CEO. 'Denmark's unique geographic and political position at the heart of northern Europe makes it the perfect place to establish our European headquarters and operational hub. Working initially with the Danish Armed Forces, we plan to roll out Saildrone's maritime intelligence services to multiple NATO countries during the course of the year. Our goal is to provide 24/7, year-round coverage for all critical infrastructure within the Baltic and North Sea, safeguarding these highly valuable installations for current and future generations.' In addition to EIFO, other participants in the round included existing investors Lux Capital, Washington Harbor Partners, Crowley, and Academy Securities, joined by new investors Pinegrove, BZH Capital, What If Ventures, and Calm Ventures. 'We are thrilled to invest in Saildrone and subsequently that Denmark has been chosen as the center for Saildrone's European activities. Saildrone is a leading company in a rapidly growing market, and gaining access to this technology can become critical for both Denmark's and Europe's security. We expect Saildrone will have an impact on both the Danish defense industry and the Danish challenges with surveillance in the Arctic and counteracting sabotage in Danish waters—at a fraction of the cost of a patrol ship,' said Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO. Saildrone will deploy the first four Saildrone Voyagers in the Baltic Sea in June 2025, under contract to the Danish Armed Forces. About Saildrone Saildrone is a maritime defense and oceanographic survey company creating a paradigm shift in how navies, governments, and commercial organizations obtain the real-time, accurate data required to monitor the maritime domain. Powered primarily by renewable wind and solar energy, Saildrone's fleet of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) provides long-duration operations measured in months, not days. Saildrone USVs carry sophisticated sensors combined with proprietary AI algorithms to give a full picture of the maritime environment above and below the sea surface, supporting border protection, critical infrastructure security, and hydrographic survey. Saildrone has sailed more than 2,000,000 nautical miles from the High North to the Southern Ocean and spent over 50,000 days at sea in the harshest ocean conditions on the planet.
