Insufficiently Effective: Denmark Drops Plan to Buy Israeli BARAK MX Air Defense System

Denmark’s Ministry of Defense has decided not to proceed with the purchase of Israeli BARAK MX air defense systems. The decision was announced on the ministry’s official website.

According to the statement, the coalition of parliamentary parties responsible for defense policy accepted the Danish Defense Command’s recommendation not to proceed with the acquisition of the BARAK MX system.

The decision was primarily based on the assessment that funds earmarked for the Israeli system would be better allocated to other initiatives offering greater combat effectiveness and faster operational readiness, particularly in ground-based air defense.

The Ministry also shared that the funds planned for BARAK MX would instead be used for projects expected to deliver quicker, more tangible protection among the air defense systems Denmark is currently procuring.

“We have a clear professional strategy for developing ground-based air defense, and I am pleased that we reached a unanimous agreement to follow this path in Parliament. This ensures that we acquire the most suitable capabilities and accelerate the creation of an effective system,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated.

On October 20, 2025, Denmark’s Ministry of Defense resumed talks with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on a possible purchase of the BARAK MX air defense system. However, a week later, the Ministry decided to halt negotiations, even though the Israeli system could have been delivered as early as summer 2026.

Rising Russian aerial and drone activity has prompted Denmark to launch one of the largest air defense programs in its history, which the country is building largely from scratch.

The total planned investment in air defense exceeds €7.7 billion. The program includes the purchase of eight batteries of medium- and long-range surface-to-air missile systems.

The top layer of defense will consist of SAMP/T NG systems, which Denmark selected over the U.S.-made Patriot. The purchase will make Denmark the first export customer for the modernized SAMP/T NG system.

The SAMP/T NG offers enhanced capabilities against a range of aerial threats, including drones, cruise missiles, and medium-range ballistic missiles.

In an earlier statement, the Danish Ministry of Defense outlined the components of its future national air defense network.

“For long-range systems, the Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG will be acquired, while for medium-range systems, the choice will be made between the Norwegian NASAMS, Germany’s IRIS-T, and France’s VL MICA. The systems were selected based on a comprehensive assessment of operational, economic, and strategic factors,” the Ministry noted.

Denmark also plans to strengthen its air defense with additional F-35A fighter jets. The Defense Ministry announced an order for 16 more F-35As to bolster the Royal Danish Air Force.