Denmark’s Home Guard has taken delivery of two De Havilland Twin Otter short takeoff and landing (STOL) utility aircraft to bolster its support for the greater defense and police force.
The planes, modified for patrol tasks, were acquired through an eight-year leasing agreement, during which they will provide surveillance, search, and other necessary assistance for domestic missions and areas of operations under the European border agency Frontex.
The pair will replace two Britten-Normann Defender transport aircraft procured under a separate lease agreement in 2015 that will soon retire with about 6,800 flight hours completed.
“We are presenting the result of a tender that is based on good and solid multi-year cooperation between the Home Guard Command, the Danish Air Force and the Ministry of Defence’s Materiel and Procurement Board,” Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation Air Military Capabilities Officer Col. Klaus Qvis stated.
“A cooperation that builds on the fine cooperation that has existed on the Defender aircraft that the Twin Otter will replace. It is very satisfying to be able to deliver sought-after and modern aircraft to our customers and partners.”
‘Right Equipment’
The Twin Otters are fitted with modern camera and sensor solutions enabling all-day larger area monitoring across land and sea.
They also have a low-speed mode enabling longer flight times for instances such as synchronous operations with ground forces.
In addition, the platforms’ standard STOL functionality will allow operators to deploy from sites with shorter runways, making the planes’ mission availability flexible.
Similar to their predecessor, the Twin Otters will be stationed at the Roskilde and Aalborg airports once they reach full operational capability in the first quarter of 2025.
“The new aircraft are an example of how the right equipment is essential to deliver competent and sought-after effects that strengthen the Armed Forces’ overall task performance and increase safety for the Danes,” Air Home Guard Chief Col. Dennis Thagaard commented.
De Havilland’s Twin Otter System
Depending on its configuration, the Twin Otter’s airframe can measure up to 52 feet (16 meters) long and have a wingspan of 65 feet (20 meters).
It can carry about 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms) of payload and 2,500 pounds (1,1334 kilograms) of fuel.
The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engines with up to 750 horsepower for speeds of 180 knots (21 miles/33 kilometers) per hour, an altitude of 25,000 feet (7,620 meters), and a range of 800 nautical miles (921 miles/1,482 kilometers).
