25 March 2026
The top trend in Denmark: The new Danish legal framework for defence-related
Denmark has adopted new legislation that makes it easier, more efficient and faster to plan, approve and carry out certain construction projects and operational activities.
The legislation applies to projects and activities that are aligned with significant national defence purposes or important civil emergency preparedness purposes.
Such projects and activities may now be executed under a more streamlined and coordinated administrative framework than under ordinary rules. The new regime allows authorities to shorten, adapt and coordinate procedures where this is necessary in light of Denmark’s or allied security needs.
The rules are set out in Act No. 1097 of 15 September 2025 on construction projects and operational activities serving significant national defence purposes or major civil emergency purposes.
The act is supplemented by project-specific ministerial orders. Two have already been issued:
- Executive Order No. 1276 of 5 November 2025 on the establishment of a national ammunition production facility in Elling.
- Executive Order No. 1278 of 5 November 2025 on the establishment of a production facility in Vojens for units containing solid rocket propellant.
These two executive orders demonstrate how the act works in practice. The first project concerns the construction and operation of a new national ammunition plant in Elling. The second concerns the construction and operation of a new production facility in Vojens, where the Ukrainian company Fire Point – through its Danish subsidiary FPRT ApS – will manufacture solid rocket propellant for rocket motors. In both cases, the act has been used to create a unified and coordinated set of procedures to enable faster and more efficient execution of strategically important defence-related projects.
The act’s special legal mechanisms are found in particular in sections 2, 3, 4 and 6. Section 2 allows the competent minister to issue project-specific executive orders, take over powers from other authorities and adapt or deviate from procedural rules when necessary to achieve the project’s objectives. Section 3 allows the minister, in special and confidential situations, to issue individual decisions that temporarily depart from legal requirements, where the nature of the project does not allow a public executive order. Section 4 allows for expropriation of land and rights when needed for the project. Section 6 introduces a special six-month deadline for bringing legal proceedings against decisions taken under powers assumed under the act.
The act only allows adaptation or derogation from procedural rules and administrative procedures. It does not allow any changes to substantive requirements under other legislation. All substantive rules and requirements continue to apply in full. This includes rules on environmental protection, occupational health and safety, chemicals, security, export control, sanctions and other ESG-related areas. This follows directly from the wording of the act, from the preparatory works and from the content of the first two executive orders.
The new legal framework provides companies, investors, banks and technology partners with a clearer, simpler and more predictable regulatory environment. It applies to parties involved in the manufacturing of weapons, ammunition and other military equipment, as well as the production of parts, components and technologies used in such systems. This includes rocket motors, solid propellant, advanced sensors, electronics, drone systems and other strategically important technologies.
The act is temporary and automatically expires on 31 December 2028. Projects and activities initiated before that date will continue to be regulated by the act and by executive orders adopted under it.
The new act has practical consequences for companies, investors, financial institutions and international partners engaged in defence-related or civil emergency-related projects or activities in Denmark.
Clearer and more predictable processes
The act provides a clearer planning basis by consolidating all procedural rules into one project-specific executive order. This reduces uncertainty about timelines, consultation steps, approval routes, supervision and documentation.
Faster and more efficient execution
Streamlined administrative processes may shorten the overall time required to establish production facilities, operational sites or support infrastructure. This is particularly relevant for projects involving weapons, ammunition, explosives, rocket-propellant production, drone systems, sensors, military components and other strategic technologies.
Full compliance obligations remain
The act does not change any substantive legislation. Companies must still comply fully with the rules regarding the following matters (among others):
- Environmental matters
- Occupational-health and safety
- Chemical regulation matters
- Explosive-materials
- Export-control rules
- Sanctions rules
- ESG-related rules
These rules and their obligations apply in full and are monitored within the unified process.
Greater regulatory coordination
The act allows authorities to work in a coordinated manner. This benefits companies that must comply with several sets of rules at the same time, for example concerning chemicals, explosives, environmental protection and safety.
Stronger framework for investment and financing
A more predictable approval route provides a better basis for financial planning, risk assessment and investment decisions. This is highly relevant for companies, private-equity funds, banks, export-finance institutions, international partners and technology suppliers involved in defence-industrial development.
Relevance for international cooperation
The act can support projects involving allied forces, multinational industrial cooperation and joint development programmes, including cooperation with NATO, EU countries or partners such as Ukraine.
The act expires on 31 December 2028.
Until that date, several or even many additional project-specific executive orders are expected to be issued. The first two projects in Elling and Vojens indicate that the act will be used particularly for projects where Denmark needs to strengthen its industrial capacity and production within the defence sector, including weapons, ammunition, rocket-motor components and other advanced military technologies.
Based on the structure and purpose of the act, it is expected that future executive orders may concern projects such as:
- Expansion of production of weapons, ammunition and military equipment
- Production of parts, components and technologies used in weapons and military systems, including rocket motors, missiles and drones
- Advanced sensors, electronics and secure communications systems
- Facilities supporting the presence or operational needs of allied forces in Denmark
- Infrastructure and installations relevant to critical-infrastructure protection and civil-emergency preparedness
- Capacities relating to supply security, protective shelters, technical installations and government-continuity arrangements
- Specialised testing, training and maintenance facilities
For these and other reasons, the act is likely to have a much broader impact than the first two projects alone might suggest. Denmark – like other European countries – is expected to expand industrial capacity, supply chains and technological capabilities that support modern defence and civil-emergency requirements.
The act provides a practical framework for establishing facilities that are necessary for Danish and allied security. It enables faster procedural handling without changing any substantive requirements, thereby ensuring that projects are carried out safely, responsibly and in compliance with environmental, occupational-safety, chemical, export-control, sanctions and other regulatory obligations.
In this way, the act gives both authorities and companies a workable instrument for implementing strategically important projects during a period where security, defence and preparedness needs are significant and rapidly evolving.