Denmark Eyes P-8 Poseidon Acquisition for Arctic Surveillance
Denmark has announced it may acquire a fleet of Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to enhance surveillance of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, Reuters reported.
Any purchase would require parliamentary approval and could cost several billion dollars.
“I would prefer that we collaborate with other NATO countries in order to get the most value for our money and to have a greater degree of flexibility,” said Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen to Reuters.
“But if that proves impossible, then I am also willing to accept that we will have to acquire this P-8 aircraft capacity ourselves,” he added.
P-8 Poseidon
The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
It is also used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, maritime domain awareness, and search and rescue operations.
The aircraft can reach altitudes up to 41,000 feet (12,497 meters) and has a maximum speed of 490 knots (907 kilometers/563 miles per hour).
Equipped with an in-flight refueling system, the P-8 has extended endurance and range, allowing it to conduct long-duration patrols over large maritime areas.
The P-8 Poseidon is operated by the US Navy, the UK Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Other operators include Germany, India, Canada, and South Korea.
Rising Tensions
The potential acquisition comes amid growing geopolitical challenges in the Arctic.
Washington has repeatedly expressed interest in Greenland, citing security reasons, prompting diplomatic tensions with Copenhagen.
Earlier this month, Denmark’s defense minister attended the “Arctic Light 2025” military exercise in Greenland with his Icelandic and Norwegian counterparts.
The exercise involved more than 550 troops from NATO allies, including France, Germany, and Sweden.
The US, which maintains an airbase in northern Greenland, did not participate.
