Denmark has cleared the construction of five Arctic patrol ships after receiving approval from the Defence Conciliation Circle, a move aimed at reinforcing surveillance and presence around Greenland.
Production will be split among multiple Danish shipyards, with final assembly centralized at a new state-owned facility in Frederikshavn. The yard will be designed to support the construction of larger naval platforms in the future.
According to the government, the model reflects the findings of a Deloitte review, which concluded that a decentralized build strategy offered the best balance between cost efficiency and domestic industrial engagement.
Replacing Aging Vessels
The vessels are scheduled to enter service in 2030, taking over from the Thetis and Knud Rasmussen classes, whose repeated mechanical failures have constrained Denmark’s Arctic patrol and search-and-rescue coverage.
Industry Outlook
No shipbuilder has yet been named, but national media reports indicate that a Danske Flådeskibe-led consortium—including Terma, Odense Maritime Technology, PensionDanmark, and Semco Maritime—could secure the contract.
The same consortium was previously awarded DKK 490 million ($78 million) to develop patrol vessel concepts for the Danish Navy, which were later modified for Arctic operating conditions.
The approval follows years of criticism over the slow pace of Denmark’s Arctic fleet renewal, a debate that predates recent geopolitical attention on Greenland.
