Denmark picks European air defense system over U.S. Patriot

Denmark will acquire the Franco-Italian Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain (SAMP/T) system for long-range air defense, opting against the U.S.-made Patriot due to higher costs and longer delivery times, the defense ministry said. The purchase is part of a roughly $9 billion plan to develop a layered, ground-based air defense system, according to Business Insider.

For medium-range coverage, Denmark plans to choose one or more European systems, considering Norway’s NASAMS, Germany’s IRIS-T and France’s VL MICA. In total, eight long- and medium-range systems are slated for procurement, complementing the acquisition of the SAMP/T.

«It is not a rejection of Patriots. It’s a selection of what is best,» said Pugholm Olsen, who leads the ministry’s acquisitions arm, explaining that using multiple suppliers should shorten delivery timelines and speed the buildup of Danish combat power.

Building on these priorities, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen called the program a top priority. The first system is expected to be operational in 2025, with deployments expanding to cities, infrastructure and military sites.

Demand for a sophisticated air defense systems has surged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, straining production lines and lengthening wait times for systems such as Patriot.

Earlier this year, Denmark summoned a senior U.S. diplomat after reports claimed that individuals linked to President Donald Trump had attempted to influence politics in Greenland. This came against the backdrop of the U.S. president asserting that the Danish territory should be under U.S. control. Denmark warned it would not tolerate interference in its internal affairs.