The Danish government has selected Lockheed Martin’s TPY-4 ground-based air surveillance radar to provide airspace coverage over Skagen, Bornholm, and the Faroe Islands.
Denmark will receive three TPY-4 radars, with an option for a fourth, to strengthen the Royal Danish Air Force and support NATO’s collective security.
The decision follows a recommendation from Denmark’s Chief of Defence, General Michael W Hyldgaard, and aims to enhance Danish and allied situational awareness in the Arctic and North Atlantic amid rising Russian military activity.
“I am very pleased that the conciliation group supports the acquisition of air warning radars from Lockheed Martin,” Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen said.
“The radars constitute an important capacity for surveillance in Denmark and the North Atlantic.
The Kingdom’s ambition for low voltage is under pressure, and the current security policy situation requires that the presence and cooperation in the Arctic and the North Atlantic be significantly strengthened. With this acquisition, we are well on our way.”
Air Surveillance Radar
Denmark and the Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, first outlined plans for the radar project in February 2021, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine later accelerating the effort.
The solid-state, phased-array radar provides real-time air target detection and tracking and integrates seamlessly with existing air and missile defense systems.
“The TPY-4 radar’s advanced capabilities strengthen interoperability across allied air-defense networks, ensuring Denmark and its regional partners can respond rapidly to evolving threats,” Vice President of Radar and Sensor Systems at Lockheed Martin Rick Cordaro added.
To Monitor Russian Air Activity
The radar’s surveillance range of 555 to 1,000 kilometers (345 to 621 miles) is intended to provide coverage of the airspace between Iceland, Norway, and Britain.
Denmark’s parliament allocated 1.5 billion kroner ($236 million) for the system as part of the country’s broader plans to strengthen its defensive capabilities and surveillance in the Arctic.
The radar systems are intended for persistent air surveillance, enabling Danish forces to detect and track airborne threats over a wide area.
Radar sites in Skagen and Bornholm will monitor Russian air activity in the Baltic Sea, while the Faroe Islands site will cover the airspaces of Iceland, Norway, and Britain, a key NATO-Russia flashpoint.
“Modern air warning radars are essential for us to detect, understand and respond quickly to deviations from the normal picture and specific threats,” Hyldgaard said.
“With the new systems, we will have a significantly improved situational picture, which strengthens security throughout the Kingdom and our ability to contribute to NATO’s overall air defense.”
