Denmark to order missiles from Covenant, Kongsberg, TV2 reports (updated)
UPDATE 1-Denmark to order missiles from Covenant, Kongsberg, TV2 reports Adds Russian embassy comments in first paragraph, fourth bullet point
COPENHAGEN, Oct 22 (Reuters) - NATO member Denmark will on Thursday announce deals to acquire long-range precision missiles for the first time as the Nordic country seeks to beef up its security, Danish TV2 reported, drawing sharp condemnation from Russia's embassy.
The government in Copenhagen said last year that it intended to buy long-range offensive weapons to counter a Russian military threat to Europe, drawing sharp condemnation from Moscow.
Denmark's Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus will on Thursday announce an agreement to buy the Anthem missile type made by U.S. defence firm Covenant, TV2 reported, citing anonymous sources
The Nordic country will also buy Joint Strike Missiles for its F-35 fighter jets, the report said. The JSM is made by Norway's Kongsberg KOG.OL and US group Raytheon
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen last year said the Danish military would "buy, buy, buy" new weapons after years of budget cuts, in a move triggered by the war in Ukraine
The Russian embassy in Copenhagen said Denmark's policy is aimed at confrontation with Russia and that buying long-range precision weapons would not improve Danish security, warning of "inevitable disastrous consequences" from the policy
(Reporting by Soren Jeppesen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, editing by Terje Solsvik)
((soren.jeppesen@thomsonreuters.com; Mobile: +45 2332 5113))
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