Denmark's Navy Equipped for Future Warfare

As Denmark's navy is set to be upgraded, the perspective on how defence capabilities are built and maintained is also changing. In an interview, Claus Lundholm Andersen from the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) describes how software, flexibility, and closer collaboration with industry will be crucial to meeting future security challenges.

During Navy Tech & Seabed Defence 2026, leading actors in the naval sector gathered for discussions and knowledge exchange. In the coming years, Denmark's navy will undergo a comprehensive upgrade, a strategy presented by Søren Kjeldsen, head of the Danish navy, together with Claus Lundholm Andersen, responsible for naval programmes at the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO).

After the presentation, Nordic Defence Sector met with Claus Lundholm Andersen to gain a deeper understanding of how Denmark views future acquisition capabilities and how the country plans to meet upcoming needs.

Lundholm Andersen describes the need for tailored methods depending on what is to be acquired and how each project is designed. Flexibility in decision-making is thus central, but he also emphasises the importance of precision in the processes, especially considering the complexity and scope of the platforms.

– Some projects are better suited to more traditional methods, while others require a more innovative and flexible approach, he says and continues:

– Historically, the traditional approach has often involved a long analysis phase together with end-users, followed by procurement, contract signing, and finally implementation. At the same time, we must be honest: for very large and complex platforms, we need to take the time required. We cannot just rush, says Lundholm Andersen.

In today's defence environment, software constitutes an increasingly large part of military systems, changing how defence capabilities are planned, developed, and maintained. Unlike in the past, when the focus was mainly on hardware and mechanics, today's defence capability is largely defined by software. This places new demands on continuous updates and close collaboration with industry to ensure that systems remain relevant and effective over time. According to Lundholm Andersen, this is both a natural development and a clear challenge for the sector.

– Given the development, the ability to continuously update software is absolutely central.

He highlights everyday consumer technology as an example of systems that require ongoing updates to maintain high functionality.

– When you have a phone, you regularly receive updates and can add new features over time. That's the kind of thinking we need to bring into the military area. It's easier said than done. We have encountered challenges along the way, but we are on the way, and we have a close dialogue with the industry about how this should work in practice. They wrestle with the same issues as we do, says Lundholm Andersen.

At the same time, the rapid technological development means that the time horizons in defence procurements are becoming increasingly problematic. Large military systems are characterised by long development and delivery times, while technology, especially in sensors and software, develops at a significantly faster pace. This creates a gap between the decision-making moment and the actual delivery, with the risk that the systems are on the verge of becoming obsolete already when they are put into use.

– If we, for example, order a new radar system today, the question arises: how do we ensure that it is still relevant and modern when it is delivered in three to four years, say around 2029? That is a significant challenge.

Part of the solution, according to Lundholm Andersen, lies in closer collaboration and a more continuous dialogue between the industry and the defence sector as a whole.

– Part of the answer is to engage the industry in a more partnership-based collaboration, rather than seeing the relationship as a pure transaction. It is not the whole solution, but it is definitely an important part of it, says Lundholm Andersen in conclusion.