Denmark buys NSM coastal missile system

Denmark has signed a contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to acquire the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence System.

According to a press release from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace dated December 17, 2025, the Danish government finalized the agreement for the NSM Coastal Defence System, known as NSM CDS. The contract is valued at more than €100 million ($117 million) and will provide Denmark with a new land-based coastal artillery capability.

As noted by the company, the NSM CDS will give Denmark the ability to engage modern naval threats from shore-based positions, adding a new layer to the country’s maritime defense posture. The system is designed to operate as a mobile, land-based solution that can be deployed along coastlines to deny access to hostile surface vessels.

“The acquisition will enable Denmark to combat modern naval threats from the land and will strengthen the country’s operational capabilities. In addition, it will help increase the NSM CDS’ overall presence from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

The NSM Coastal Defence System consists of Kongsberg’s fire control system, the Naval Strike Missile itself, and mobile launch pads. Together, these components form a land-based strike capability intended to detect, track, and engage surface targets at sea. The system is designed for integration into NATO command-and-control structures and for operation in joint and combined environments.

Denmark has already moved to integrate the Naval Strike Missile into its naval forces. Earlier this year, Copenhagen signed a separate contract for NSM missiles to equip its frigates. The coastal defense system extends the missile’s role from sea-based platforms to land-based operations, allowing Danish forces to cover key maritime approaches from multiple directions.

Kongsberg said Denmark’s decision reflects broader interest among NATO members in mobile coastal defense systems, particularly in regions where narrow seas, chokepoints, and contested maritime areas play a central role in defense planning.

“Denmark’s choice confirms NSM CDS’s position as the leading land-based and mobile coastal artillery solution for NATO allies,” said Kjetil R. Myhra, Executive Vice President of Defence Systems at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

With this acquisition, Denmark becomes the fifth NATO country to field the NSM Coastal Defence System. Other NATO users include Poland, the United States through the U.S. Marine Corps, Romania, and Latvia. These systems are typically deployed as part of broader anti-access and area-denial strategies intended to protect coastlines and critical maritime infrastructure.

The Naval Strike Missile is a precision-guided, sea-skimming anti-ship missile developed by Kongsberg and already in service with several NATO navies. While specific operational details of Denmark’s configuration were not disclosed, the missile is known for its ability to navigate complex coastal environments and engage targets with a low observable profile.

For Denmark, the coastal defense system adds a land-based option to defend sea lanes in the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions. These waters have gained renewed strategic importance as NATO increases its focus on deterrence and defense along its northern and eastern flanks.

Kongsberg has positioned the NSM CDS as a flexible solution that can be rapidly deployed and relocated, allowing forces to adjust their defensive posture as the threat environment changes. The company says the system’s mobility and integration with NATO networks are central to its appeal among allied militaries.