The Royal Danish Navy (*Søværnet*) is directed by the Naval Command (*Søværnskommandoen*), which is headquartered at Karup. The fleet is organized into two primary squadrons based at two major naval facilities: Naval Base Frederikshavn in northern Jutland and Naval Base Korsør on Zealand. The 1st Squadron, based at Frederikshavn, focuses on North Atlantic and Arctic operations, including sovereignty patrols, fishery protection, and search and rescue. The 2nd Squadron, based at Korsør, manages the navy’s combat-oriented surface vessels and is responsible for international deployments and maritime security operations.
The surface fleet includes Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates and Absalon-class frigates. The Iver Huitfeldt-class is configured for area air defense, equipped with Mark 41 Vertical Launch Systems for SM-2 and ESSM missiles. The Absalon-class frigates, originally designated as flexible support ships, were reclassified as frigates following upgrades to their anti-submarine warfare suites, including the installation of towed array sonars. For Arctic and North Atlantic operations, the navy operates Thetis-class patrol frigates and Knud Rasmussen-class offshore patrol vessels, both of which are ice-strengthened. Coastal surveillance and sovereignty tasks in domestic waters are conducted by Diana-class patrol vessels and Holm-class multi-role boats. The Royal Danish Navy does not operate a submarine force, having decommissioned its last boats in 2004.
Operational activities center on the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the North Atlantic regions surrounding Greenland and the Faroe Islands. In early 2025, the Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate *Niels Juel* deployed to the Red Sea as part of international efforts to secure commercial shipping lanes against missile and drone threats. The navy also maintains a permanent presence in the Arctic under the Joint Arctic Command to monitor environmental changes and maritime traffic in the High North. Mine countermeasures remain a consistent activity in the Baltic and North Seas, where specialized units locate and neutralize historical sea mines.
Shipbuilding efforts are currently focused on the replacement of aging hulls through domestic partnerships. The Danish Ministry of Defence is collaborating with the Danske Patruljeskibe P/S consortium to design and manufacture a new class of modular patrol vessels. These ships are intended to replace the Diana-class and eventually succeed the Thetis-class frigates. In 2025, the defense ministry initiated preliminary design studies for a future class of large surface combatants to ensure continuity in air defense and anti-submarine capabilities. Recent deliveries have focused on unmanned systems for mine detection and the continued integration of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters across the frigate fleet.
