The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (FMI) is now transitioning from a phase of extensive procurements to focusing on implementation. Over the coming years, more than 5,000 vehicles and 50,000 weapons will be allocated to the army and the Home Guard. This shift is described as crucial for building up the defence capabilities in time.
– We are moving from having a handful of projects per year to having 30–50 parallel projects with simultaneous deliveries. It is a completely different scale that requires much closer coordination and prioritisation of our resources to ensure smooth distribution, says Colonel Thomas Øgendahl Knudsen, head of the land division at FMI.
According to a press release from the organisation, the large volumes impose new demands on defence logistics and readiness. Some materiel, such as uniforms and small arms, can be allocated more or less immediately after delivery. Other systems, such as vehicles, require extensive integration of components and inspection before they are ready for operational use.
To manage the strain on the defence's own maintenance resources, FMI is now mapping delivery schedules in detail. The organisation also emphasises that cooperation with the defence industry will change character in the near future. The industry's primary task will increasingly be to support the defence with readiness, operation, and maintenance.
With the new volumes of materiel comes a need to build technical competence around everything from amphibious bridge vehicles to mortar systems. According to Thomas Øgendahl Knudsen, FMI must now be prepared to abandon old processes.
– There is a risk that if we stick to the way we have always done it, it will take too long, and then we will have a fantastic army – but too late, he says.