Denmark signs deal with US firm to purchase vertical takeoff drones

The Danish Defense Ministry has signed a 10-year agreement with the American company Arcturus UAV Inc. for the purchase of Jump 20 drones equipped with a vertical takeoff and landing system.

“The drones can stay in the air for more than 10 hours and have a range of more than 100 kilometers, and their rugged design makes them suitable for operation in a wide range of difficult climatic conditions,” the Danish Defence Ministry noted, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

It added that Jump 20 is easy to use, easy to deploy and will improve the reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities of the Kingdom's Armed Forces. The press release specifies that deliveries of the UAV will begin this year.

Danish defence minister said that such a term of the agreement allows Denmark to purchase additional drones if necessary.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that NATO countries need to increase spending on their defense. According to the American president, members of the alliance should increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.

Later, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said during a press conference before a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels that Denmark plans to increase its spending on the country's defence, even though it “will be difficult and it will be expensive.” Also amid Trump's claims of wanting to take control of Greenland, Denmark will spend more than $2 billion to boost its military presence in the Arctic.

By Khagan Isayev