Latest news with #DanishArmedForces
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.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Denmark to send unarmed soldiers to Ukraine for drone warfare training
The Danish Armed Forces plan to send unarmed troops to Ukraine for short-term training courses to study the country's drone warfare tactics, Major General Peter Boysen, Denmark's commander-in-chief, told state broadcaster TV 2 on April 16. While several NATO countries have trained Ukrainian forces abroad, no official reports have confirmed the presence of foreign troops inside Ukraine for training purposes. The courses, expected to begin as early as this summer, will take place at training centers in western Ukraine and will not involve direct combat. "We're sending some teams down to see what experiences the Ukrainians have had — first-hand," Boysen said. "They are not going there to actively participate in the war." Boysen, who has visited Ukraine twice in recent months, said the initiative is being launched at the invitation of Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. "In the 42 years I have been in the Armed Forces, I have not experienced things moving as fast as they are right now," Boysen said, referring to advances in unmanned systems and combat tactics driven by Ukraine's experience with drone warfare. Both Ukraine and Russia have come to rely heavily on drones for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and targeted attacks. Denmark sees the conflict as a live testbed for modern warfare. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us The training program will involve teams from different Danish military regiments. Courses will last one to two weeks and be conducted far from the front line, possibly near Lviv. Boysen emphasized that Ukraine has robust air raid warning systems and shelters, saying, "I've spent time in one of them in Kyiv myself." The move drew sharp criticism from the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen. Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin called the decision a provocation, warning it would "drag Denmark deeper and deeper into the conflict in Ukraine." "(F)acilities, including headquarters, training and education centers, as well as locations of military personnel and military equipment, both deep inside Ukrainian territory and on the front line, are a legitimate target for the Russian Armed Forces," Barbin said. Separately, European allies are discussing plans to deploy a "reassurance force" in Ukraine after a potential ceasefire to secure Ukrainian strategic facilities in the rear. Copenhagen signaled interest in taking part in the effort. Denmark has been a key backer of Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. In February 2024, Copenhagen signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement with Kyiv, pledging long-term defense cooperation until Ukraine secures NATO membership. Read also: Trump officials 'fed up' with Europe's efforts to strengthen Ukraine, Economist reports We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Denmark to send soldiers for training in Ukraine
The Danish Armed Forces are planning to send Danish soldiers to Ukraine for training. Source: Major General Peter Boysen, Commander of the Danish Ground Forces, in an interview with Danish TV channel TV 2, as reported by European Pravda Details: Several teams of Danish soldiers are set to be deployed to Ukraine. They will be unarmed and drawn from various military regiments. The Danish command is particularly interested in Ukraine's three years of frontline experience with drone warfare. "In my 42 years of service in the armed forces, I have never seen events develop so quickly," said Major General Peter Boysen, after observing the training of a reconnaissance regiment using advanced attack drones similar to those deployed on the front line in Ukraine. Boysen asserts that the adoption of new weapons systems and warfare methods by the Danish Armed Forces stems from his two recent visits to Ukraine. He now aims to accelerate the process by sending more teams of Danish soldiers to training camps in Ukraine. The number of training courses has not yet been finalised, but Boysen told TV 2 that both instructors and soldiers are expected to take part in sessions lasting one to two weeks, possibly starting as early as this summer. "We are sending several teams there to see first-hand what experience the Ukrainians have. So come and get this experience," he said. "Yes, I've been there several times. But these soldiers aren't going there to take an active part in the war. They're going there to gain some experience, and this is at the invitation of my counterpart, the commander of the Ukrainian military," said Boysen. Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen has expressed outrage over the Danish Armed Forces' plan to send personnel to a training camp in Ukraine. "Sending Danish troops to Ukraine, including to study combat experience, draws Denmark deeper and deeper into the conflict in Ukraine and provokes its further uncontrolled escalation," Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin said in a written comment to TV 2. In response, Boysen emphasised that the soldiers would be unarmed and deployed far from the front line, likely at a training centre in Ukraine's west. "They will be trained far from the front line, for example, in Lviv in Ukraine's west. And if there is a missile attack, the Ukrainians have outstanding warning systems and good shelters. I myself spent time in one of them in Kyiv," Boysen said. Background: At the end of March, Denmark announced €130 million in guarantees for Danish companies prepared to invest in Ukraine's defence industry. More recently, the drone coalition, which includes Denmark, allocated €20 million from a joint fund to procure tactical-level intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones for Ukraine's defence forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Times of Oman
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Which countries require military service for women?
Copenhagen: Denmark is the latest country to introduce military conscription for women. On March 25, Copenhagen announced that young women who turn 18 after July 1 of this year could be drafted by national lottery starting in January 2026 if the military does not attract enough volunteers. The measure is being put into place two years earlier than planned amid rising geopolitical tensions in Europe. Around 25% of voluntary recruits are currently women, according to the Danish Armed Forces. Compulsory military service, which was already in place for men, lasts between four and 12 months, depending on what recruits decide to do after their three-month basic training. Pioneers of military equality Women are also required to serve in the armed forces in Norway and Sweden. Norway has had universal conscription since January 2015, while in Sweden, conscription was abolished in 2010 and then reactivated in January 2018 to include both men and women aged 18 and over. The duration of military service is between six and 15 months. Around 20% of all military personnel are female. In the Netherlands, conscription also applies to women, although compulsory military service as a whole has been suspended since 1997. Conscription laws in Israel have required women to serve in the armed forces since 1949, though only for two years, while men serve for three. In June 2024, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jews, who were previously exempt from this obligation, will now also serve in the military, though this ruling only applies to men. More women recruits in Africa and Asia A significant number of African countries conscript women too. In the East African state of Eritrea, the duration of compulsory military service is 16 months for both men and women. Women are also required to serve in Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Cape Verde and Niger. There is also conscription for women in Ivory Coast, though it is not enforced. In Mozambique, the government declared in 2024 that selective compulsory service could be increased from two to up to five years. The Asian countries of Burma, China, East Timor and North Korea also have conscription. In North Korea, women have been required to perform military service since 2015, and the minimum age is 17. Depending on their level of education, this can last several years. In East Timor, compulsory military service for men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 was decided in 2020, with a service period of 18 months. However, it is not clear how the obligation will be implemented. In China, women aged 18 to 19 who have completed school and meet the requirements for certain military professions are subject to compulsory military service.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AV's JUMP 20 Selected by Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation for Tactical UAS Program of Record
ARLINGTON, Va., February 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AeroVironment (AV), through its wholly owned subsidiary Arcturus UAV, has been awarded a contract by the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) with a contract ceiling value of $181 million to deliver the JUMP® 20 medium uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to the Danish Armed Forces. This 10-year program of record will equip the Danish Army with JUMP 20 systems to enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, reinforcing AV's position as a global leader in advanced autonomous solutions. JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed-wing UAS with 13+ hours of endurance and an operational range of 185 km (115 mi). Runway independent, the system is easily storable and transportable, and can autonomously launch and land at speed without personnel intervention, making it ideal for on-the-move operations. "JUMP 20 sets the standard for simplicity, modularity, and durability—critical attributes for reliable performance in the demanding Scandinavian terrain," said Shane Hastings, AV's vice president and general manager for Medium UAS. "With a combat-proven track record and over 300,000 operational flight hours, JUMP 20 stands as a best-in-class UAS, equipping the Danish Armed Forces with unmatched multi-mission capabilities to operate effectively in complex and austere environments." With a 30-pound modular payload capacity, JUMP 20 is engineered to adapt to evolving CONOPS and multi-domain mission demands. Its modular design enables the Danish Armed Forces to seamlessly integrate emerging technologies, ensuring their UAS capabilities remain at the cutting edge. As AV continues to advance its portfolio of robust and diverse autonomy solutions, JUMP 20 is perfectly positioned to scale, incorporating future hardware and software enhancements to meet the dynamic needs of modern warfare. "This significant contract win reinforces confidence in the JUMP 20 system and underscores AV's commitment to delivering unmatched capability, reliability, and innovation to our customers," said Hastings. "We have a longstanding relationship with the Danish Ministry of Defence, and we're excited to build on that foundation—collaborating with the Danish Armed Forces to enhance their UAS capabilities for years to come." ABOUT AEROVIRONMENT AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a global leader in intelligent multi-domain robotic systems, uncrewed aircraft and ground systems, sensors, software analytics and connectivity. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, AeroVironment delivers actionable intelligence so our customers can proceed with certainty. 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 René BardorfAeroVironment+1.703.418.2828pr@
