Denmark places a record order for air defense: prefers European SAMP/T to Petriots

The Danish government has reached an agreement to purchase eight medium- and long-range ground-based air defense systems worth 58 billion kroner ($9.11 billion). This is the largest single investment in the country's defense to date, it says on the Danish government's website.

Denmark chose the Franco-Italian SAMP-T long-range air defense system instead of the most popular American alternative, Patriot.

As for medium-range systems, the options of Norwegian NASAMS, German IRIS-T and French VL MICA are being considered. The choice of systems was made based on a comprehensive assessment of operational, economic and strategic factors.

According to Per Pugholm Olsen, head of procurement at the Danish Ministry of Defense, the decision to work with several suppliers rather than one or two allows for shorter delivery times.

It is expected that the first ground-based air defense system in Denmark will be commissioned in 2025, after which the number of systems will gradually increase.

Traditionally, Denmark has placed significant defense orders with American companies, notes Bloomberg. In particular, in 2016, the country decided to build a new generation of aircraft fleet based on the American F-35 from Lockheed Martin, abandoning European options, including the Eurofighter Typhoon.

This decision signals a change in approach in favor of European partners. Denmark made the decision just a few weeks after its neighboring Norway signs a record contract with the UK for the supply of new frigates, also bypassing American offers.

Currently, Denmark spends about 3% of GDP on defense, but plans to increase this figure to 5% by 2035 in line with new NATO goals.

• on September 9, the Financial Times wrote that Ukraine may face a shortage of air defense equipmentbecause the Pentagon had slowed down its deliveries. However, the White House called these statements untrue.