The Danish drone association will be established under DI Transport in Copenhagen in February 2026, bringing together leading operators and users across aviation, transport, logistics and construction to coordinate with authorities after recent airspace disruptions and to accelerate common rules and best practice.
Why a national body now: airport closures and security lessons
A string of unidentified drone sightings over Danish airports and sensitive sites in autumn 2025 exposed gaps in coordination between public authorities and industry. The new organisation is designed to turn those lessons into shared procedures, promote counter‑drone readiness, and ensure that commercial drone use can continue safely during heightened security alerts.
Who is behind the initiative: DI Transport and key partners
The association is being set up by DI Transport with participation from Danish developers and major users of drone technology. Early contributors include developers Upteko and Acodyne, engineering consultancy NIRAS, and major infrastructure actors such as Copenhagen Airports and Billund Airport.
According to DI Transport’s chief consultant Patrick Alexander Liebgott (chefkonsulent), the goal is to build a cross‑sector hub where companies and authorities can share data, standardise practices and speak with a common voice.
What the Danish drone association will do: rules, data sharing and counter‑drone
The planned agenda focuses on three pillars:
- Clear frameworks for flight permissions, registration and compliance to align with EU rules while reflecting Danish needs.
- Better knowledge‑sharing between companies and authorities, including incident reporting and training.
- Counter‑drone cooperation to support detection and neutralisation capabilities without stifling legitimate commercial use.
Industry potential: from inspections to critical infrastructure
Denmark’s drone ecosystem already delivers inspections, infrastructure monitoring and surveying at scale—particularly in energy, ports and construction. Firms like Upteko now supply solutions used by energy companies, the police and the Armed Forces, indicating a mature domestic market with export potential.
A coordinated association is expected to help Danish suppliers set standards and compete in the European drone industry.
EU and Nordic context: strategy, investment and competitiveness
The initiative comes as the EU and NATO push to strengthen anti‑drone capacity and as Denmark invests in surveillance and neutralisation systems. A sector‑led association can link industrial capabilities with public strategy, supporting both security resilience and innovation. For Nordic and EU partners, Denmark’s move offers a model for balancing security requirements with the growth of a civilian drone economy.
What’s next
The association is expected to be formally established in February 2026. In the coming weeks, DI Transport and participating companies will refine governance, membership and a work programme aimed at delivering common standards, practical guidelines and policy input for a national drones strategy.
