Denmark launches market dialogue on new 21-vessel programme

Denmark has taken a further step in renewing the Home Guard Navy fleet, with the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) issuing a request for information covering 21 new vessels.

The notice opens a formal market dialogue with industry, intended to shape the framework for the forthcoming procurement. 

The vessels will replace the existing 800- and 850-class units and are expected to perform both military and civilian roles, including surveillance, escort operations and the protection of critical infrastructure in Danish waters.

The request indicates that DALO is seeking a prime contractor responsible for design, construction, integration and partial militarisation. At this stage, the authority is also gathering input on timelines, cost drivers and potential build strategies ahead of a formal tender.

The programme was agreed politically as part of Denmark’s fleet plan partly published in April 2025. This outlined 26 smaller vessels, including 21 for the Home Guard Navy, with an estimated total cost of around DKK 4 billion.

Modularity required

A central requirement is that the vessels are designed around modularity. This includes provision for deck space, power, cooling, bandwidth and other interfaces to accommodate systems not yet defined, including uncrewed and counter-uncrewed capabilities.

This reflects a wider shift in naval procurement as recently reported by Defence Nordic, where flexibility is designed into the platform from the outset rather than added through later upgrades. In practice, vessels are increasingly “fitted for” future systems rather than fully “fitted with” capabilities at delivery.

The approach is driven by the mismatch between long shipbuilding timelines and rapidly evolving technology. Early design decisions can therefore shape how effectively vessels are upgraded over decades of service.

However, modularity also introduces trade-offs. 

Designing for flexibility requires additional space, power and integration capacity, committing resources upfront for capabilities that may only be realised later. The value of this approach will depend on how those upgrade options are used over time.

The process now underway is therefore not only about supplier selection, but about defining how the Home Guard Navy’s future fleet can adapt over time.