As technological development progresses faster than military processes, new demands are placed on how the navy collaborates with industry and prepares for future conflicts. During Navy Tech & Seabed Defence 2026, Denmark's Chief of Navy Søren Kjeldsen describes how flexibility, domestic maintenance capability, and close dialogue with industry have become crucial factors in the ongoing strengthening of the Danish naval defence.

As previously reported, the Nordic Defence Sector was present at Navy Tech & Seabed Defence 2026. At the conference, among others, Claus Lundholm Andersen from the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), together with Denmark's Chief of Navy Søren Kjeldsen, gave a presentation on the Danish navy's acquisition capability and strengthening.

Late in the afternoon, as the tables are set and mingling increases, the Nordic Defence Sector catches up with Søren Kjeldsen for an interview. Given the surroundings and the open conversational climate, the discussion first touches on the Chief of Navy's own perspectives on the day and the meetings between industry and decision-makers. It has been a long but rewarding day, and he returns to the relationship between the navy and industry. He points out that dialogue is central but also demanding in a time when technological development moves faster than military processes.

– I enjoy the discussions with my colleagues just as much as the discussions with the industry. But at the same time, it is challenging because the industry is "all over us." They move quickly and constantly come up with new solutions, and we must take one step at a time to keep up.

During the presentation, it was reported how Denmark's naval sector is to be both strengthened and modernised, focusing on everything from larger platforms to underwater protection and a domestic industrial capability to maintain ships. Søren Kjeldsen believes that it is a strategically important issue to develop the domestic marine industrial capacity.

– It is a political desire for Denmark to develop that capability, and from a strategic perspective, it is interesting to have such a capacity in northern Europe. If we find ourselves in a conflict, it is a clear advantage to be able to utilise the opportunity to build maritime platforms here.

Even though the decisions may fundamentally be political, the consequences are operational. For Kjeldsen, it is less crucial where a ship is built, but entirely crucial where it can be maintained.

– I have no opinion on where ships are built, but I have a clear view that they should be able to be maintained here in Denmark. If we had to handle maintenance far from Denmark, I would not be able to make the operational decisions I can today, and it is very important to me that we retain that possibility.

Shifting from peace and disarmament to strengthening and a generally increased security focus means that strategic choices become necessary. A recurring theme, even in other interview contexts, is the question of how we prepare for tomorrow's conflict. Søren Kjeldsen points to a particularly important aspect.

– It's about flexibility, not being locked into how things will be. Conflicts start suddenly, and the situation can change in just a few days. Therefore, the ability to adapt is crucial for how we can best prepare, he says and continues:

– We will never be able to predict exactly when the next war will come or what it will look like. But by being flexible and prepared, and by being able to scale up the industry when needed, we can optimise our defence, says Søren Kjeldsen.

If you could decide, how would you organise the Danish naval defence for the future?

– I don't have that answer. But on an overarching level, I want to see long-term strategic plans for our larger platforms and continued development of smaller, unmanned vehicles. At the same time, it is important that we always think flexibility when developing our systems. Anyone can guess what the world will look like in 15 years, and almost no one would be right. Therefore, the ability to adapt is absolutely crucial.