Denmark’s Defence Conciliation Circle has approved plans to build five new Arctic patrol vessels to strengthen maritime surveillance around Greenland.
The ships will be produced through a distributed manufacturing model, with construction spread across several Danish facilities and final assembly carried out in Frederikshavn, North Jutland. Under the plan, the assembly yard will be state-owned and designed to accommodate the construction of larger naval vessels in the future.
The approach follows a Deloitte assessment that identified decentralized production as the most cost-effective solution while maximizing domestic industrial participation.
Entry Into Service by 2030
The new patrol ships are expected to become operational by 2030, replacing the aging Thetis- and Knud Rasmussen-class vessels, which have suffered recurring technical issues that have degraded Arctic surveillance and search-and-rescue capabilities.
Potential Builders
While a prime contractor has not yet been selected, Danish Broadcasting Corporation reporting suggests a consortium led by Danske Flådeskibe—including Terma, Odense Maritime Technology, PensionDanmark, and Semco Maritime—is a leading contender.
The group previously received 490 million Danish kroner ($78 million) from the Ministry of Defence to develop patrol ship designs for the Danish Navy, later adapted for Arctic missions.
The decision comes amid longstanding criticism that Denmark has been slow to modernize its Arctic fleet, concerns that existed even before recent remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland.
