Industry agreements point to growing interest in Danish hybrid fleet concept
The Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Iver Huitfeldt. The class’s proven hull design has become the basis for Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate, now under consideration for Denmark’s future frigate requirement. (Photo: Royal Danish Navy)
Babcock’s new Danish industry agreements have reignited debate over whether Copenhagen is edging towards a hybrid fleet blending crewed frigates with autonomous systems.
Babcock has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three Danish technology companies in a move that has sharpened questions over whether Denmark is preparing to build a hybrid navy combining crewed warships with autonomous systems.
The agreements, signed at DALO Industry Days, cover Stormborn and CUBEDIN, two Danish companies, and SH Group. The MOUs are intended to examine future hybrid naval capabilities and how crewed and uncrewed systems could operate together in a coordinated Danish fleet.
Sir Nick Hine, chief growth officer at Babcock, said the Arrowhead 140 illustrated the depth of the relationship, describing it as an example of the
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