US Approves $425M MH-60R Seahawk Sale to Denmark

The U.S. Department of State approved a $425 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Denmark on September 22, 2026, authorizing the procurement of three additional Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters. The acquisition will expand the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) fleet to 12 aircraft, bolstering the nation’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime surveillance capabilities across the Baltic Sea, North Atlantic, and Arctic regions.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) press release, the principal contractors for the procurement will be Lockheed Martin Corporation and its subsidiary, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. The approval marks a continuation of Denmark’s ongoing effort to modernize its rotary-wing maritime strike and reconnaissance forces.

Equipment package and strategic capabilities

The $425 million package includes the three airframes, T700-GE-401D engines, and the AN/AQS-22 Advanced Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS). Naval Technology reported that the deal also encompasses eight embedded global positioning and navigation equipment systems and three digital magnetic anomaly detection systems, which are critical for locating submerged submarines.

The U.S. Department of State outlined the strategic intent of the procurement in its official announcement, emphasizing regional stability and infrastructure protection.

“The proposed sale will improve Denmark’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing increased security for its critical infrastructure. Denmark will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defence.”

The department added that the RDAF will have no difficulty integrating the new aircraft and associated services into its existing armed forces structure.

Fleet expansion and Arctic security

Denmark placed its initial order for nine MH-60R helicopters in 2012, with deliveries occurring between 2016 and 2018. Janes reported that the current fleet is operated by Eskadrille 723 out of Karup airbase. Defensemirror.com noted that Denmark is actively upgrading these existing aircraft into a dedicated ASW force, equipping them with sonar systems and Mark 54 torpedoes to anchor the country’s northern defense strategy.

The helicopter procurement aligns with expanding security cooperation between the United States and Denmark. The Times of India reported that on September 22, 2026, the two nations signed a separate security agreement at the United Nations General Assembly regarding Greenland. This concurrent agreement allows the U.S. military to modernize and expand its activities at Pituffik Space Base, further integrating the defense postures of both nations in the high north.

AirPro News analysis

We view this procurement as a direct response to the shifting security architecture in the Baltic and Arctic theaters. By expanding its MH-60R fleet and standardizing on the AN/AQS-22 ALFS and magnetic anomaly detection systems, Denmark is transitioning its rotary-wing maritime force from a primary focus on surface surveillance and search-and-rescue to high-end anti-submarine warfare. The concurrent agreement regarding Pituffik Space Base underscores a coordinated NATO effort to secure the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) gap against subsurface threats, placing the RDAF’s expanded Seahawk fleet at the center of allied maritime domain awareness.

Sources: U.S. Department of State