Denmark to buy Kongsberg, Covenant missiles for new long-range strike option

Denmark is planning a two-part long-range strike force. Its air-launched option is the Kongsberg-made Joint Strike Missile, designed for carriage by F-35 fighter aircraft. Its ground-launched option is Covenant’s Anthem missile. Together, they would give Denmark ways to threaten distant targets from both aircraft and land positions.

The launch method is the key difference. F-35s would carry and release Joint Strike Missiles from the air. Ground equipment would launch Anthem missiles from Danish territory or another prepared location. Both systems are intended for precision strikes, rather than simply delivering unguided explosive force.

Important details remain unsettled. Officials have not said when Denmark would receive the missiles, how many it would buy, or what the program would cost. Anthem missiles have never seen combat, and their planned production in Leipzig could begin in early 2027.

A long-range precision-strike missile is a powered weapon designed to reach distant targets and guide itself toward a chosen point. “Precision” means the weapon is intended to hit a specific target, while “long-range” describes the distance it can cover. The article places many such missiles between 500 and 1,500 kilometers, depending on their engines and warheads.

A missile differs from a conventional unguided bomb because it carries its own propulsion and guidance. A short-range weapon has less reach and usually requires the launching force to operate closer to the target. Air-launched missiles can also let aircraft attack without flying directly over the target, while ground-launched missiles provide a separate land-based option.

The exact boundary is not fixed. Manufacturers and governments keep performance details secret, so public descriptions are broad. Range can change with the missile’s engine and warhead configuration, and officials have released few details about Denmark’s planned purchases.

The article gives a broad working range for missiles described as long-range: about 500 kilometers to 1,500 kilometers. That is a large span, not a single technical standard. The distance depends partly on the missile’s engine and warhead configuration, so two weapons in the same category may have different reach.

Public knowledge is limited by design. Manufacturers and governments keep performance information close to their chests to avoid revealing useful details to potential adversaries. As a result, reported ranges may be general estimates rather than complete specifications. The article does not provide confirmed range figures for either the Joint Strike Missile or Anthem.

Denmark’s announcement also leaves major procurement facts open. Officials have not disclosed how many missiles they plan to buy, when delivery would occur, or the total cost. Anthem’s producer claims a lower price than existing products, with a mid-six-figure target per unit during serial production.

Combining the two missile types would give Denmark a new long-range strike capability. The Joint Strike Missile would extend the reach of Denmark’s F-35 fleet, while Anthem would add a land-based launch option. The defense ministry describes the weapons class as a qualitatively new capability for the small country.

The key mechanism is variety in how a response can begin. Aircraft can carry missiles toward a launch area, while ground-based systems can remain separate from the fighter fleet. This creates two distinct ways to deliver precision strikes. The article does not specify how the systems would be coordinated, but both are intended to improve Denmark’s ability to strike back.

The capability is still planned, not operational. Officials have not announced delivery dates, quantities or costs. Denmark is expected to offer NATO a long-range strike capability by 2030, making the purchases important for both national defense and alliance commitments.

Denmark considers the ability to strike back important because European countries are preparing for the possibility of Russian aggression. Long-range missiles can support national self-defense by giving a country a way to respond against distant targets after being attacked. The defense minister said the planned purchases would strengthen Denmark’s self-defense capabilities.

The second concern is reliance on the United States. The article says European governments view U.S. assistance with this kind of weaponry as uncertain under Donald Trump’s presidency. Denmark therefore wants its own air-launched and ground-launched options, rather than assuming outside support would arrive in a future conflict.

This does not mean Denmark has already received the weapons. The acquisition plan still lacks public details on numbers, price and delivery timing. But the government links the purchases to a wider European trend and to NATO’s expectation that Copenhagen provide a long-range strike capability by 2030.

NATO’s requirement gives Denmark a specific reason to pursue these weapons. The defense ministry says Copenhagen is expected to offer the alliance a long-range strike capability by 2030. Officials cite that contribution target as a key motivator for acquiring the new missile class.

The planned systems match that need in two ways. F-35 aircraft could carry and launch Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile, while land-based equipment could launch Covenant’s Anthem missile. Together, they would give Denmark both air-launched and ground-launched precision-strike options. The article describes this as a qualitatively new capability for the country.

The contribution remains an intention rather than a fielded force. Denmark has not announced how many missiles it will purchase, what they will cost, or when they will arrive. Anthem production in Leipzig could begin in early 2027, while the NATO target is set for 2030.

A credible retaliatory capability can deter an opponent by changing the expected outcome of an attack. If an adversary believes Denmark could strike back at distant targets, the potential costs of aggression rise. That possibility may make attacking less attractive than avoiding conflict. This is the basic logic behind describing long-range weapons as a deterrent.

The mechanism depends on both reach and credibility. Denmark’s planned missiles would combine precision strike with two launch methods: F-35s carrying Joint Strike Missiles and ground systems firing Anthem missiles. That gives the country a stated ability to respond after an attack, rather than depending entirely on another country’s weapons.

Deterrence is not automatic. Denmark still has to acquire the missiles, receive them, and establish the capability. Officials have not disclosed quantities, costs or delivery dates. The planned NATO contribution by 2030 would signal that Denmark intends this retaliatory option to be real and available.