Denmark Commits to Long-Range Strike Arsenal With Dual Purchase of Missiles

The Danish Ministry of Defense committed on October 22 to acquiring its first long-range precision strike weapons, splitting the purchase between two distinct missile platforms. Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus announced the dual procurement of Norway's air-launched Joint Strike Missile and the ground-launched Anthem cruise missile from U.S. startup Covenant.[1][2]

The acquisitions provide the Danish armed forces with new capabilities to strike targets deep behind enemy lines from both the air and the ground. Officials declined to disclose the total cost, the number of munitions ordered, or the expected delivery timeline, citing operational security.[1][3]

The move addresses a direct request from NATO, which has mandated that Copenhagen field a long-range strike capability by the end of 2030. Bruus stated that the weapons will allow Denmark to carry its share of the alliance's burden while sending a clear signal about its ability to retaliate.[2][4]

Equipping the F-35 Fleet

For the air-launched component, Denmark selected the Joint Strike Missile, developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in partnership with Raytheon. The fifth-generation cruise missile is designed specifically to fit inside the internal weapons bays of the F-35A Lightning II, preserving the fighter's stealth profile during combat operations.[2][4]

The Joint Strike Missile measures four meters in length and weighs 416 kilograms, carrying a 120-kilogram high-explosive warhead. It travels at high-subsonic speeds and utilizes an imaging-infrared seeker with autonomous target recognition to strike land and maritime targets at ranges exceeding 350 kilometers.[2][4]

Denmark is currently expanding its tactical aviation fleet, having pledged last year to acquire an additional 16 F-35s to bring its total inventory to 43 aircraft. The new missiles provide these jets with a stand-off precision-strike option that they previously lacked following the retirement of the country's F-16 Vipers.[2]

Kongsberg noted that the final scope and value of the Danish contract remain subject to ongoing negotiations. Denmark becomes the seventh nation to select the Joint Strike Missile, which is an enlarged derivative of the Naval Strike Missile that the Danish Navy already operates on its frigates.[2][5]

A Ground-Launched Alternative

To complement the air-launched system, Denmark is acquiring the Anthem cruise missile, a ground-launched weapon produced by Covenant Industries. The U.S.-based defense startup emerged from stealth mode in September 2026 with $250 million in venture funding and a valuation exceeding $1 billion.[4][5]

Anthem represents a departure from traditional procurement, as the jet-powered cruise missile is a genuinely new platform that has not yet seen combat. Covenant claims the weapon has completed more than 200 flight tests since its inaugural launch in August 2025, including evaluations alongside U.S. military forces.[4][5]

The missile is designed for mass production and affordability, with a target price in the mid-six-figure range—substantially lower than the multi-million-dollar price tags typical of comparable deep-strike munitions. It carries a payload of over 200 kilograms and reportedly boasts an operational range between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometers.[4][5]

Covenant plans to manufacture the Danish order at a newly opened 10,000-square-meter facility in Leipzig, Germany. The company intends to begin serial production there in early 2027, aiming to assemble 1,000 missiles in its first year while sourcing 95 percent of the components from within Europe.[1][4]

Regional Security Implications

The dual purchase reflects a broader European push to acquire longer-range strike options as nations seek to deter Russian aggression and prepare for potential shifts in U.S. military assistance. By selecting two different suppliers, Copenhagen is hedging its bets and diversifying its precision-strike portfolio.[1][2]

"We're in a serious and deteriorating security situation, and that is why we are building up the defense and strengthening our combat power," Bruus told reporters during the announcement. He emphasized that the weapons provide the right tools to respond to an increased threat environment.[2][5]

The Russian embassy in Copenhagen swiftly condemned the procurement, warning of severe diplomatic and military repercussions. Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin accused Denmark of pursuing a reckless policy that creates a military threat to a nuclear power, claiming it would lead to catastrophic consequences.[6]

Bruus dismissed the Russian rhetoric, noting that while acquiring deep-strike weapons might draw Moscow's ire, Denmark's membership in NATO requires it to adapt to current geopolitical realities. He reiterated that the missiles are fundamentally intended to deter attacks from outside the alliance's borders.[3][6]

Expanding the Defense Industrial Base

Covenant's entry into the European market highlights a growing reliance on agile defense startups to fill critical capability gaps. The company, founded by Israeli-American entrepreneurs, maintains a significant research and manufacturing presence in northern Israel alongside its primary U.S. and German operations.[5]

The German defense ministry is reportedly also in talks with Covenant to acquire Anthem missiles for the Bundeswehr. German Army leadership has expressed a need for low-cost cruise missiles that can be deployed in large numbers, evaluating Anthem alongside other emerging systems to plug its own long-range strike gap.[1][4]

For Denmark, the combination of a proven system like the Joint Strike Missile and an emerging technology like Anthem balances reliability with the need for scalable mass. The strategy ensures that the Danish military can execute complex strike missions without depleting a limited stockpile of exquisite, high-cost munitions.[1][4]

The integration of these weapons will transform Denmark's strategic posture within the Baltic region. The timeline for achieving full operational capability remains tied to Covenant's production ramp-up in Leipzig and the ongoing delivery schedule for the Royal Danish Air Force's expanding fleet of F-35 fighters.[1][2]