A functional and combat-ready defence requires power – are we prepared?

02 July 2026 | Coromatic A/S

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𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟓 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐃𝐏 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬.

Denmark is rearming. In line with NATO commitments, we are moving towards significantly higher defence spending, and 5 percent of GDP is no longer a distant ambition but a genuine political benchmark. It reflects a necessary recognition: security comes at a cost.

Yet amid discussions about fighter jets, frigates, and new weapons systems, there is a blind spot. We talk extensively about military capabilities, but far less about what enables them to function in practice: power.

𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞
Modern military operations are entirely dependent on a stable power supply. This applies to everything from sensors and surveillance systems to communications, command-and-control systems, and logistics. NATO’s Energy Security Centre of Excellence itself identifies energy as a critical enabler of military operations. Without power, there is no radar, no communication, and ultimately no operational capability.

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
This becomes very tangible when looking at everyday operations on Danish military bases and installations. If the power goes out, it affects far more than comfort—it affects operations.

Communications systems, access control, workshops, fuel handling, and logistics all depend on electricity.

The question is therefore not whether backup power is available, but whether it is dimensioned to support more than short-term outages and sustain genuine operational activity.

𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲
At the same time, the Armed Forces’ dependence on civilian infrastructure becomes increasingly apparent. Defence does not operate in a vacuum; it is closely linked to the infrastructure that keeps society functioning.

If power is lost on a large scale, everyday life is not the only thing that grinds to a halt—it also affects the military’s ability to operate.

Transport and logistics can break down, communications systems become unstable, and critical functions such as hospitals and data centres come under pressure. The fact that the Danish Emergency Management Agency currently recommends that citizens be able to manage on their own for at least 72 hours illustrates how quickly a situation can escalate.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫
The experience from the war in Ukraine highlights just how central energy infrastructure has become in modern conflicts. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), targeted attacks on power grids and energy supply systems have had a direct impact on both societal functions and military capabilities.

These attacks are not random—they are strategic. Their purpose is to weaken an opponent’s overall resilience. At the same time, the Danish Centre for Cyber Security points to a growing threat against critical infrastructure, including the energy sector.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤: 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
This leaves us with a crucial question: How do we spend the billions wisely?

If investments focus exclusively on new military equipment, we risk building capabilities that cannot be used when they are truly tested.

Energy resilience and backup power are not technical add-ons—they are prerequisites for operational strength.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
Today, most of our infrastructure is still designed according to peacetime assumptions, where disruptions are rare and short-lived. But in a security environment shaped by hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, and sabotage, that is no longer sufficient.

We need to plan for prolonged outages—including the loss of power.

𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤
Ultimately, defence capability is a chain, and it is only as strong as its weakest link.

On military bases, in control rooms, and across operational installations, power supply is not merely a technical detail—it is the very foundation that enables missions to be carried out.

Because without power, the Armed Forces cannot function.