Located in the heart of Northern Europe, HCA Airport is set to become even more prominent in the drone industry with the establishment of a new drone center by the Danish Defence. This new facility will further strengthen the airport’s position as a key player in the region’s drone development and dual-use solutions.
As one of the leading powerhouses for drone development, the Danish Defence is committed to strengthening its ties with the local drone ecosystem. The new drone center will serve as a hub for the training of Danish Defence units and will drive the development of drone technology through experience gathering and collaboration with industry and research institutions.
Key Features and Benefits
- Training of Danish Defence units
- Collaboration with industry and research institutions
- Development of drone technology through experience gathering
- Establishment of a national drone center
The new drone center is expected to employ around 100 people and will be fully operational by 2026. The total investment amounts to approximately 100 million euros over the next decade.
Unique Collaboration
Michael Larsen, Head of UAS Denmark Test Center, is confident that the establishment of the national drone center will foster new, innovative dual-use solutions.
“Having drone developers on the same premises as hard-core end-users such as the Danish Defence, will for sure pave way for new collaborations and new ways of doing things. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that it is indeed possible to move fast and quickly deploy new solutions, and I hope that we can bring forward a similar approach here in the sandbox we call UAS Denmark Test Center,” says Larsen.
Odense’s Drone Hub Status
| Facilities and Features | Key Partnerships |
|---|---|
| UAS Denmark Test Center | University of Southern Denmark, Quadsat, Thunderstrike, Danish Defence |
| Facilities include multiple labs, photogrammetric test facilities, Arctic test facilities and an almost 3,000 km2 BVLOS flight area | National drone-ecosystem in and around HCA Airport |
| 2024: 5,500 drone operations | Odense’s drone-ecosystem in and around HCA Airport |
Potential for Innovation
““The new drone center reinforces the unique innovation and research environment we’ve built in Odense. At University of Southern Denmark, we are proud to be part of an ecosystem where research, industry and defence come together to solve real-world challenges.
