Denmark Procures Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence System for $117M
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has signed a contract valued at over 100 million euros ($117 million) with the Danish government for the delivery of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence System (NSM CDS).
Following a recommendation from the Danish Chief of Defence, General Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard, the acquisition will strengthen Denmark’s combat power by enhancing its ability to control access to strategically important waterways, including the Danish Straits and the western Baltic Sea.
The procurement follows Denmark’s earlier purchase of NSMs to equip the Royal Danish Navy’s Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates.
“The acquisition will enable Denmark to combat modern naval threats from the land and will strengthen the country’s operational capabilities,” President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Eirik Lie said.
“In addition, it will help increase the NSM CDS’ overall presence from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.”
Coastal Defence System
The NSM Coastal Defence System (CDS) consists of Kongsberg’s advanced fire-control system, NSM launcher units, and an integrated sea-surveillance and tracking radar.
The missile can engage both sea and land-based targets and has a range exceeding 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers/161 miles).
Denmark previously operated a pair of coastal anti-ship missile batteries until the mobile coastal base unit was decommissioned in 2003.
Mounted on 4-axle Scania trucks and consisting of two quadruple-launchers, the Harpoon batteries were sourced from two Peder Skram-class frigates.
One of the batteries was donated to Ukraine in 2022 to support its defense against the Russian invasion.
With the acquisition of the NSM CDS, Denmark becomes the fifth NATO nation to operate the system, joining Poland, the US, Romania, and Latvia.
