Danish Armed Forces have announced from its official website that maritime traffic is closed due to a Harpoon missile launching failure in the Great Belt. A technical problem has arisen with a missile on board the Iver Huitfeldt class frigate Niels Juel (F 363), which is docked at Naval Station Korsør.
The problem has arisen with a mandatory test where the launcher, the booster, is activated and cannot be deactivated. Until the booster is disabled, there is a risk that the missile could launch and fly several kilometres away.
The danger area is estimated to be up to 5-7 km from Naval Station Korsør at a height of approximately 1,000 meters above the water in a southern direction and not in the direction of the Great Belt Bridge. The police and the Danish Maritime Authority are informed, and ships in the direction of the danger zone are notified and asked to wait for the problem to be resolved.
The air space in the area is also closed.
Denmark experienced an incident back in 1982 known as the Hovsa-missilet. The Harpoon missile was unintentionally discharged from the Peder Skram-class frigate Peder Skram (F 352) on 6 September 1982. After travelling 34 kilometres at a low altitude, the missile exploded in an open area.
