Danish municipality orders major defence company to halt radar tests

A Danish municipality has ordered defence company Weibel Scientific to stop testing radars at a rural property within 14 days, threatening a police report if the company fails to comply, DR reports.

Hørsholm Municipality has issued a formal order to Weibel Scientific, according to documents obtained by DR through a freedom of information request. The municipality has also set a six-month deadline for the company to fully remove its test centre from the site, which is located in a rural zone. Construction and buildings in such zones require special planning permission, which Weibel does not hold.

If Weibel does not comply with the order, the municipality says it will file a police report against the company.

A dispute spanning years

DR has previously reported that Weibel Scientific has used the address in Hørsholm to test radars for three decades, and that the municipality declared the test centre illegal following a complaint from a neighbouring resident. Several political parties in the Danish parliament had at the time been prepared to use a new and contested law to allow Weibel to continue operating the test centre, but that option was never pursued.

Weibel has confirmed receiving the order but declined to comment further. However, prior to the order being issued, the company urged the municipality to wait for a ruling from the Ministry of Defence on the application of the contested law before proceeding. This is also documented in the records obtained by DR.

Weibel also stated that access to the facilities at the Hørsholm test centre is a prerequisite for delivering the equipment requested by Denmark, NATO, and allied nations.

Hørsholm Municipality declined to be interviewed.