Denmark selects U.S. Lockheed Martin air warning radars for Arctic and North Atlantic defense.

Denmark has selected Lockheed Martin to supply advanced air-warning radars for deployment at Skagen, Bornholm, and the Faroe Islands, according to the Ministry of Defense. The move sharpens Danish and allied situational awareness in the Arctic and North Atlantic amid heightened Russian military activity.

Denmark will proceed with Lockheed Martin as its supplier of next-generation air-warning radars, following a unanimous decision by the parliamentary conciliation group and the Danish Chief of Defense's endorsement, the Ministry of Defense said on December 11, 2025. The radars are slated for key geographic choke points across the Kingdom, including Skagen at the entrance to the Baltic Sea, Bornholm in the central Baltic, and the Faroe Islands overlooking North Atlantic air and maritime approaches, significantly expanding Denmark’s long-range surveillance coverage.
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On December 11, 2025, Denmark announced the deployment of new air-warning radars in Skagen, Bornholm, and the Faroe Islands to strengthen surveillance across Danish and North Atlantic airspace. (Picture source: Danish MoD)

These advanced radar systems are designed to provide persistent air surveillance, enabling Danish forces to detect, track, and identify airborne threats across a broad operational envelope. While the specific model has not been publicly confirmed, industry and defense sources familiar with similar procurements suggest that Lockheed Martin may deliver variants of its AN/TPS-77 or newer AESA-based systems, known for high mobility, long-range tracking, and advanced clutter-rejection capabilities. These systems are widely used by NATO allies and represent a significant leap forward from the legacy Danish air surveillance architecture.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the acquisition as a critical step in reinforcing Denmark’s sovereignty and readiness. “The radars constitute an important capacity for surveillance in Denmark and the North Atlantic. The Kingdom’s ambition for low tension is under pressure, and the current security policy situation requires that our presence and cooperation in the Arctic and the North Atlantic be significantly strengthened. With this acquisition, we are well on our way,” Poulsen said in an official statement.

The radar sites—Skagen in northern Jutland, Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, and the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic—form a triangular surveillance network that offers Denmark unprecedented situational awareness across multiple theaters. Skagen and Bornholm provide critical coverage against Russian air activity in the Baltic Sea, while the Faroe Islands site enhances Denmark’s ability to monitor the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap, a traditional flashpoint for NATO-Russia tensions and a crucial vector for transatlantic air and naval movements.

Chief of Defense General Michael W. Hyldgaard emphasized the operational value of the systems: “Modern air warning radars are essential for us to detect, understand, and respond quickly to deviations from the normal picture and specific threats. With the new systems, we will have a significantly improved situational picture, which strengthens security throughout the Kingdom and our ability to contribute to NATO’s overall air defense.”

The timing of this acquisition reflects Denmark’s recalibrated strategic priorities. Since 2022, Russia has increased military flights in the North Atlantic, including long-range bomber patrols, ISR missions, and simulated strike drills near allied airspace. NATO has responded with stepped-up aerial policing and sensor deployments, but Denmark’s move to invest in sovereign, high-end radar coverage marks a proactive effort to close remaining gaps in northern surveillance infrastructure.

A fourth radar installation is also being considered for East Greenland, according to Denmark’s broader Arctic and North Atlantic strategy, outlined in the second phase of the government’s regional defense plan. This prospective expansion reflects the growing recognition in Copenhagen of Greenland’s strategic importance as both a surveillance outpost and an early warning hub. East Greenland lies directly beneath high-latitude polar flight paths, which are increasingly used by foreign military aircraft, including long-range bombers and surveillance platforms. Establishing a forward-operating air surveillance node in this remote region would significantly enhance Denmark’s capacity to detect incursions and monitor strategic movements across the GIUK gap and into North American airspace—a mission aligned with both national defense objectives and NATO's integrated air and missile defense framework.

The radar program will be financed through Denmark’s Arctic Capacity Package and the Acceleration Fund, two government-backed initiatives aimed at fast-tracking military modernization in response to new security challenges. Initial deliveries are expected within the next 2 years, with full operational capability projected for 2027-2028.

For Lockheed Martin, this contract reaffirms the company’s role as a critical supplier of air domain awareness solutions to NATO and its northern allies. The U.S. defense firm has expanded its radar offerings in Europe in recent years, including contracts with Norway and the Baltic states. Denmark’s selection strengthens Lockheed’s presence in the high north and may open the door to future cooperative surveillance efforts across the Arctic region.

This radar deployment represents not just a hardware acquisition, but a strategic signal. Denmark is preparing for a future in which the Arctic and North Atlantic will no longer be buffer zones, but contested domains requiring constant vigilance, rapid detection, and close alignment with NATO's collective defense architecture.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.