KEY POINTS
- Danish military reports new drone activity near installations overnight
- Incidents come amid heightened European security concerns
- Authorities investigating possible foreign involvement
COPENHAGEN, Denmark: The Danish Armed Forces reported on Sunday that drones were again spotted flying over multiple military facilities during the night, intensifying concerns over the country’s security environment.
The military confirmed in a statement carried by Danish broadcaster DR that several unmanned aerial vehicles were observed over restricted areas. However, no immediate damage or disruption was recorded.
The latest incident follows a series of similar sightings in recent weeks that have raised alarms within Denmark’s defence establishment.
Officials said the drones appeared to be operating in a coordinated manner, though they refrained from disclosing the number of aircraft or the specific bases involved.
“We are taking these sightings seriously and are investigating all possible scenarios,” a defence spokesperson told DR, adding that the incidents posed “a clear potential risk” to military operations.
The reports come as several European countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Finland, have also documented unusual drone activity near sensitive infrastructure such as power plants, airports, and defence facilities.
Analysts told Reuters that while no group has claimed responsibility, the sightings have coincided with heightened regional tensions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Danish authorities have not attributed the drone activity to any particular state or actor but stressed that investigations are ongoing.
The Defence Command stated it was working closely with police and intelligence services to analyse flight patterns and technical signatures to determine the origin.
Local media reported that additional security measures, including radar monitoring and ground patrols, have been introduced at key installations.
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have urged the government to enhance surveillance and clarify Denmark’s capacity to respond to potential foreign drone operations.
Regional defence experts noted that while Denmark is a member of NATO and hosts key military assets, its small size and geography make it vulnerable to surveillance or probing activities by adversaries.
“Even if these are reconnaissance flights, they signal intent to test Danish readiness,” Hans Kristensen, a security analyst at the University of Copenhagen, told Politiken.
The government has pledged to brief parliament on the matter this week, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the continued presence of drones near sensitive sites.
Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the incursions as part of a “systematic hybrid attack,” suggesting the activity was neither random nor civilian in nature.
“This is organised and deliberate, and it must be seen in the context of broader hybrid threats against Denmark and NATO,” he told Reuters. The overnight incidents follow a string of drone-related disruptions this week, including temporary closures of Aalborg and Billund airports after unidentified aerial vehicles were detected in restricted zones.
The military also confirmed sightings near Skrydstrup air base, one of Denmark’s most strategically important sites, where F-35 fighter jets are stationed. AP reported that air traffic in parts of western Denmark was delayed or diverted during the alerts, though authorities stressed civilian flights were never in direct danger.
Security analysts told The Guardian the pattern of sightings is consistent with hostile reconnaissance operations, potentially linked to Russia’s wider campaign of hybrid tactics in Northern Europe.
The Baltic Sea has become a flashpoint following incidents of sabotage against subsea infrastructure in recent years, and Denmark’s central role in NATO’s defence posture makes it a high-value target.
In response, authorities are accelerating the rollout of anti-drone technology across military and civilian sites, including detection radars and signal-jamming systems.
Poulsen said legislative changes are also being drafted to give police and operators of critical infrastructure greater authority to neutralise unidentified drones in restricted airspace.
NATO officials told The Guardian the alliance was monitoring the situation “with vigilance” and preparing enhanced aerial surveillance measures in the Baltic region.
European Union partners have also been briefed, with Brussels considering whether the pattern of incursions constitutes a collective security concern. “This is not just a Danish problem — it is a European problem,” one EU security official told Reuters. “The aim is to test our resilience and sow uncertainty.”
The Defence Command said it is continuing to collect and analyse evidence from overnight sightings. While the precise number and origin of the drones have not been disclosed, officials have confirmed that military readiness levels remain elevated.
