Enhanced Arctic Surveillance through Denmark-Canada Drone Collaboration
MILAN — Denmark and Canada, equipped with a new defense cooperation agreement, are poised to enhance their Arctic surveillance capabilities through the shared deployment of MQ-9B drones, as highlighted by industry experts.
The Danish Air Force initiated Squadron 729 on February 16, which is set to manage four MQ-9B long-range unmanned aircraft from Aalborg Air Base in northern Denmark starting in 2028.
Earlier this month, Canada, which has purchased 11 drones of the same model from General Atomics, inked a defense cooperation pact with Denmark during the Munich Security Conference. These drones are slated for placement in various locations, including Nova Scotia on the east coast and British Columbia on the west coast of Canada.
Strategic Benefits of Denmark-Canada Partnership
This alliance unites two Arctic nations that have been subject to criticism from Donald Trump since he began his second term as U.S. president in early 2025. Trump has expressed displeasure towards Canada for its reluctance to join the United States, and towards Denmark for its refusal to cede the autonomous territory of Greenland to him.
The strategic integration surrounding the MQ-9B drone offers a promising avenue for strengthening ties between Ottawa and Copenhagen, particularly as there are no current formal agreements for shared maintenance or data exchange between the two nations, according to experts.
Jens Marquard Sørensen, director of a Danish consulting firm, stated, “A joint logistics or maintenance hub would be strategically advantageous for both countries. The high costs of maintaining equipment and operating bases in the region can be mitigated by sharing facilities and having an integrated logistics system, thereby simplifying and enhancing the efficiency of operations for all involved.”
However, both countries need to first ensure that their operational strategies are aligned.
Positioning the Danish fleet at Aalborg Air Base aligns the equipment with air force maintenance expertise, but it is geographically distant from strategic patrol locations in Greenland, Sørensen pointed out.
“The considerable distance from Aalborg to Greenland could introduce operational challenges – long flight times increase wear on drones before they even commence a mission, and they would consume significant fuel just reaching their patrol areas. Establishing a forward operating base directly in the Arctic would offer substantial operational benefits,” he explained.
To illustrate, the direct distance between the Danish air base and Nuuk is around 3,324 kilometers (2,065 miles), with commercial jets covering this route in approximately four to five hours.
Rune Raunow, a defense consultant at Copenhagen-based Rethink Advisory, mentioned that a Denmark-Canada agreement involving the U.S.-manufactured surveillance drones would be critical for contingency plans and emergency logistics such as refueling or emergency landings.
Integration of sensor technologies could also play a crucial role, noted Raunow. While the Canadian government has opted for the L3 Harris Wescam MX-20D sensor systems for its intelligence and surveillance missions, Denmark has yet to reveal its choice of sensors.
“The drones themselves are merely platforms; the real value lies in whether both nations will adopt compatible communication networks, sensors, and optical detection systems. Coordinating on equipment would greatly simplify tracking threats in these remote areas,” added Raunow.
Canada’s acquisition of the MQ-9B drones was motivated by the need to enhance Arctic operations and ensure continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as per official government statements.
While its drone fleet is based in southern locations, aligning with existing airfields and maintenance infrastructure, these positions remain distant from the high Arctic and regional chokepoints, thus heightening the country’s surveillance demands.
Sørensen suggested that if NATO were to reactivate Keflavík Air Base in Iceland as a shared allied base, even if only for emergencies, it could serve as a potential station for the countries’ MQ-9B fleets. He highlighted that this location provides optimal access for patrols north, east, and south of Greenland.
Keflavík Air Base, which ceased operations in 2006 and was primarily managed by the U.S. Navy on behalf of NATO, continues to host routine and rotational fighter and bomber deployments focused on air policing missions.
As a NATO member, Iceland does not maintain its armed forces. Sørensen added that its geographic position south of the Arctic Circle facilitates operations and reduces weather-related disruptions, offering a more accessible alternative than locations in Nuuk or Canada.
“The shipping routes here are open year-round, making it more cost-effective to maintain a station or base than in other regions – technicians, spare parts, or even larger equipment can be transported relatively cheaply via regular civilian shipping routes, unlike shipping to Greenland, which can cost up to $20 per kilogram in some areas,” Sørensen noted.
Other potential sites might include Northern Canada, which Hans Peter Michaelsen, a defense analyst and former member of the Royal Danish Air Force, identifies as geographically proximate to Danish Arctic territories. However, he notes that many of these areas face significant infrastructure challenges that could hinder the construction of year-round drone facilities.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
