Danish navy says frigates remain essential despite rise of drones

The Danish navy has concluded that frigates cannot be replaced by modern, remotely operated sea drones, as the warships remain the only vessels capable of handling critical security tasks in an uncertain geopolitical climate, state broadcaster DR reports.

According to a navy analysis, frigates are uniquely equipped to detect Russian submarines in the North Atlantic, protect shipping lanes, and secure strategic waterways. However, the assessment also recommends integrating frigates with new drone technology, potentially using the warships as “mother ships” in a hybrid fleet model.