Defence chief urges industry to accelerate innovation and delivery

"The industry must accelerate."

That was the unambiguous message from Denmark’s chief of defence, General Michael Hyldgaard, at the Danish Defence Annual Conference (DDAC) 2026 in February.

- We need innovation at speed, Hyldgaard told delegates. 

- We scalability and the ability to innovate continuously.

100 exhibitors

With 1,000 participants and more than 100 exhibitors, the conference is among the largest defence industry gatherings in the Nordic region.

Joachim Finkielman, director of DI Defence and Security, said the sector faces a substantial task in equipping the armed forces of the future.

- It ranges from ships, aircraft and missile systems to radar technology, artificial intelligence and microchips. It is an extremely complex challenge that the Danish and international defence industries are confronting right now.

The Danish armed forces are working at pace not only to procure equipment, but also to receive and integrate newly acquired materiel.

According to the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), the armed forces are currently taking delivery of 5,500 vehicles.

- This is happening at considerable speed, Colonel Thomas Ø. Knudsen told the conference.

Even so, he called for closer partnerships with industry and faster delivery timelines in the months and years ahead.

Crucial for operations

In Sweden, the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) faces similar pressures. In comments to Defence Nordic, FMV said there is a general need to ensure timely deliveries, and that a key factor is suppliers meeting their contractual obligations.

- Reliable delivery performance is crucial for maintaining operational readiness, FMV said in an email.

At the same time, FMV and the Swedish armed forces are working to streamline and accelerate internal processes to enable faster procurement where required.

One approach is closer cooperation and joint procurement with allies. By pooling demand, governments can secure stronger industrial commitments and potentially shorten delivery times.

- A good example is the joint procurement of the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle by Sweden and Denmark, FMV said.