Denmark struggles to meet NATO helicopter requirements amid aging fleet

NATO requires the Danish Armed Forces to have five EH101 helicopters available for the transport of troops and cargo. However, Denmark is currently unable to meet this requirement, according to Major General Jan Dam, head of the Air Force. He stated that the Air Force does not have enough operational EH101 helicopters, limiting their flight hours necessary for fulfilling operational tasks. This issue has persisted for several years.

The EH101, also known as Merlin, has previously been deployed for troop transport missions in Afghanistan in 2014-2015 and in Mali in 2020. A shortage of spare parts for the aging helicopters has hampered the operational readiness required for both rescue operations and troop transport at squadron 722. Consequently, Dam has prioritized rescue missions over NATO commitments.

He explained that the demands have escalated to a point where he must focus on societal responsibilities, emphasizing that rescue work is crucial for public safety. Currently, only enough helicopters are available to maintain three rescue helicopter stations, as the maintenance of these aircraft is intensive and the needed spare parts often arrive late.

While Dam is not suggesting new helicopters are immediately necessary, he noted the increasing age of the EH101s raises questions about their long-term viability. Denmark operates 14 EH101 helicopters, acquired in 2001 and operational since 2007.

Within the Air Force, the decision to deprioritize tactical troop transport means that personnel will no longer train for this function. Dam acknowledged it will not be feasible to meet NATO’s transport capacity soon, but he insists that fulfilling this mission remains a priority for the future.