COPENHAGEN, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Denmark's Ministry of Defense on Monday announced the 194 million U.S. dollar purchase of an advanced system for tracking submarines.
"The worsening threat in the region makes it necessary to raise Denmark's maritime military profile. With this acquisition, we are also strengthening our contribution to NATO, not least in the North Atlantic," said Defense Minister Trine Bramsen.
The equipment has been purchased from the United States.
Nine special dip sonars have been procured that can be fired, from recently purchased Seahawk helicopters, into the water.
The sonars give the Danish armed forces an even greater overview of what is moving beneath the surface of the sea they are patrolling.
In addition, 600 so-called sonar buoys are attached to the purchase. They can be laid out over an even larger sea area for finding submarines.
The purchase effectively enhances Denmark's role in NATO, where Danish forces focus on Russian submarines in the Baltic Sea and in the waters around Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
The purchase now makes Denmark more capable to participate in GIUK operations with American, British and French navy in the North Sea.
GIUK stands for Greenland, Iceland and the UK and the term GIUK-Gap refers to the large sea area between Greenland and the UK.
