Denmark officially created the 729 Squadron 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, subordinate to the Air Transport Wing, and represents a strategic reinforcement of the country’s operations in areas considered priorities for national and regional security.
The aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery from 2028, will be used mainly in maritime monitoring, reconnaissance and information collection missions. Parallel to the arrival of the equipment, the Danish Air Force will continue recruiting and training personnel, in addition to preparing the infrastructure necessary for full entry into operation.
With flight autonomy of up to 24 hours, the MQ-9B will allow Denmark to expand its presence and observation capacity in extensive and difficult-to-access areas, such as Greenland and Arctic waters. According to authorities, the systems will also be able to support environmental monitoring actions, search and rescue operations and intelligence activities, reflecting the dual nature of operations in the region.
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Despite being classified as unmanned, the drones will be controlled by pilots at ground stations, through radio communication links. Aircraft must operate in airspace shared with civil aviation, maintaining regular contact with air traffic control, in accordance with traditional aviation procedures.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @Osint613 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
This week we have established Squadron 729 in the Air Force. It is to be the home of the four remote-manned, long-range aircraft that the Norwegian Armed Forces have recently entered into an agreement for the purchase of. They must be used to monitor Danish interests in e.g. The Arctic, the North Atlantic and… pic.twitter.com/ImdDkII4nY
— Defense (@forsvaretdk) February 17, 2026
