For the first time in two decades, Denmark is reinstating a land-based air defence system, marking a major shift in its military posture. The new headquarters, named Air Defence Wing, has officially opened in Skalstrup, a former air base located south of Roskilde in Sjælland (Zealand).
The announcement came on Wednesday from Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen (Venstre), who inaugurated the facility alongside acting Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard.
“The security policy situation means we need to accelerate the build-up of the Armed Forces’ combat capability,” said Poulsen. “Establishing a land-based air defence in Denmark is an absolute operational priority.”
A renewed focus driven by war in Ukraine
Denmark has been without a terrestrial air defence system since 2005, when the Dehawk system was decommissioned. That decision came after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when threats to Danish airspace were deemed minimal.
But Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has reshaped defence priorities across Europe. For Denmark, the war underscored the strategic necessity of modern air defence systems that can intercept airborne threats from the ground.
“In Ukraine, where I have travelled extensively, one can clearly see the value of ground-based air defence systems,” Poulsen said at the inauguration.
Air Defence Wing under the command of Flyverkommandoen
The new Air Defence Wing will operate under the Flyverkommandoen (Air Command), which is responsible for both planning and executing the deployment of the system.
The speed of implementation is crucial. As Hyldgaard emphasised: “It is a huge task that will demand much from everyone. Speed is essential.”
In February 2025, the Danish political parties behind the national defence agreement (forsvarsforliget) reached consensus on the urgent need to acquire a land-based air defence system. The procurement and logistical operations are now in the hands of the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (Forsvarsministeriets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse).
The plan is to purchase one long-range and two short-range air defence systems, as outlined in the 2024 defence agreement.
Strategic defence investment with European implications
The reintroduction of air defence infrastructure is part of Denmark’s broader military upgrade, in line with its NATO obligations and growing concerns over European security. With tensions high in the Baltic region and increased Russian military activity near NATO borders, Denmark’s move is seen as both a national and regional strategic reinforcement.
As Europe braces for continued instability, Denmark’s decision to re-establish its air shield reflects a renewed commitment to resilience and preparedness. Skalstrup, once dormant, now stands at the centre of that effort.
