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Denmark - Army

By 2016 the army's peacetime size was c. 15,500, civilians included. Its operations are directed by The Army Operative Command in Karup and the Army Material Command in Hjørring. The army consists of 15 regiments drawn from the different service branches (battle troops, artillery, etc.) which train the troops up to subdivision level (company, etc.). After this, the companies are given training in mutual co-operation by the larger unit (brigade, military region, etc.) to which they are assigned. Of such larger units, three armoured brigades make up the Danish Division. A fourth is deployed as the Danish International Brigade (DIB). This brigade consists of 4500 serving and reserve personnel. C. 1/3 of these could be sent at any given time within the framework of the UN or OSCE.

The 2013-2017 Defence Agreement agreed in November 2012 by seven of the eight political parties represented in the Danish Parliament introduced measures to improve efficiency. The main structural change for the land forces, as outlined in the Defence Agreement, was for the six combat baftalions to be reconfigured into three larger battle groups, of which one will be maintained at high-readiness, and also three skeleton battle groups. lncreased resources have been allocated to special operations forces (SOF) and a SOF command (SOCOM) will be created. Support functions will also be amalgamated and new joint service support units will be established for force protection, logistic and medical capabilities. Streamlining and development initiatives will reduce the number of personnel involved in human resource activities and also the number and locations of defence establishments.

A land forces structure reform, including future capability development programmes, started in 2014 with a continued focus on the battalion battie group level. Denmark will provide the mechanised infantry baffalion group sought by NATO Capability Targets. It is also able to provide the requested mechanised infantry brigade but would need 24 months notice to do so, some 18 months longer than required by the relevant NATO Capability Target. Moreover, the brigade and the deployable mechanised infantry battalion group have some capability shortfails (lack of ground based air defence (GBAD) (noting that this capability is not a NATO Capability Target requirement for Denmark), unattended ground sensors team and brigade level ISTAR, and some engineer capabilities). The current combat battalions and combat support and combat service support units are to be reconfigured into three larger standing core battie groups with one battie group on high-readiness. From these three baifle groups Denmark will be able to fulfihl three task-tailored baifle group rotations. . One division and two Brigade headquarters will remain, primarily to provide force production including force development, general training and mission tailored training and exercise.

Under the 2018-2023 Danish Defence Agreement, Denmark planned, inter alia, to establish a brigade-level capability of roughly 4,000 soldiers as an independent formation in 2024. An additional three mobilisation companies will be attached to its combat battalions and a further 1,000 reserves can be called-up if necessary. This brigade will comprise heavier units and enhanced capabilities, including more and upgraded main battle tanks (MBT), anti-tank weapons and additional artillery, with procurement of a ground-based air defence (GBAD) system and supported by elements of the Danish joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (JISR) capability. This new emphasis at the brigade level will see a more coherent structure to deliver capabilities for operations. Denmark also planned to establish a new light infantry battalion consisting of regular personnel which can be deployed at very short notice.

A fifteen-year capability development plan was being prepared, following publication of the Defence Agreement, which will provide continuity of planning past the 2023 period of the current agreement, into the medium term. Denmark will introduce these capabilities through a national planning process which is closely harmonised with NATO, although national priorities are not entirely coincident with NATO’s.

Denmark planned as of 2019 to transform its army to a more operational structure with an Army Command (which includes the function of the Danish Division Headquarters (HQ)), an infantry Reaction Force Brigade, an Adaptable Force Brigade and the Force Troops consisting of one logistics, one signals, one engineer, one artillery and one army intelligence regiment as well as the Royal Life Guards Regiment and the Royal Guards Hussars. The Reaction Force Brigade is planned to consist of three “medium” infantry battalions (based on companies with a mix of platforms of armoured personnel carriers (APC), infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and MBTs), one intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) battalion; one artillery battalion, one combat engineer battalion, one logistics battalion, one HQ and signals company, as well as a military police company.

The Adaptable Force Brigade was expected to consist of one light infantry, one armored, and one reconnaissance battalion, as well three basic military training battalions. Denmark was introducing new artillery and mortar systems, and planned to introduce GBAD, counter-improvised explosive device and ISR capabilities as well as modern engineering and communications and information systems to fulfil its current capability shortages and provide many elements of the requested medium infantry brigade by 2024. This is a positive development. In order for Denmark to fully meet the requirement to develop a fully-capable heavy infantry brigade by 2032, it will have to resolve a number of capability limitations including: critical firepower, the low readiness of units, the lack of brigade-level training, and the low levels of stocks and munitions.