Denmark has officially established Squadron 729 to operate four long-range MQ-9B drones, expanding its surveillance capabilities in the Arctic, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic region.
The new unit will be based at Aalborg Air Base, under the Air Transport Wing, and represents a strategic reinforcement of the country’s presence in areas considered priorities for national and regional security.
The aircraft, with deliveries scheduled from 2028, will be primarily employed in maritime surveillance missions, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering. In parallel with the arrival of the equipment, the Royal Danish Air Force will continue recruiting and training personnel, as well as preparing the necessary infrastructure for full operational capability.
With an endurance of up to 24 hours, the MQ-9B will enhance Denmark’s presence and observation capacity in vast and hard-to-access areas such as Greenland and Arctic waters. According to authorities, the systems may also support environmental monitoring, search and rescue operations, and intelligence activities, reflecting the dual-use nature of operations in the region.
Although classified as unmanned, the drones will be controlled by pilots at ground control stations via radio communication links. The aircraft are expected to operate in airspace shared with civil aviation, maintaining regular contact with air traffic control in accordance with standard aviation procedures.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @Osint613 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Vi har i denne uge oprettet Eskadrille 729 i Flyvevåbnet. Den skal være hjemsted for de fire fjernbemandede, langtrækkende luftfartøjer, som Forsvaret for nylig har indgået aftale om indkøb af. De skal bruges til at overvåge danske interesser i bl.a. Arktis, Nordatlanten og… pic.twitter.com/ImdDkII4nY
— Forsvaret (@forsvaretdk) February 17, 2026
