Danish Air Force Home Guard

The Air Force Home Guard, known in Danish as Flyverhjemmeværnet, is an operational branch of the Danish Home Guard. It provides voluntary military support to the Royal Danish Air Force, the Danish police, and other national authorities, particularly in situations involving airport security, national preparedness, emergency management, and observation of Denmark’s territorial waters. Although it is associated with the air domain, its responsibilities extend beyond flying operations: much of its work is carried out by locally based personnel who secure installations, assist authorities, and contribute to surveillance and protection tasks. The organization is structured around geographically distributed units located in municipalities containing airfields or situated near airports. These air force home guard squadrons generally consist of approximately 100 to 150 riflemen and are commanded by volunteer captains. This local structure allows the branch to provide personnel close to relevant aviation infrastructure and to reinforce regular authorities during emergencies or other national-security requirements. The Flying Home Guard comprises 28 squadrons and two divisions. Its organizational designations include HVE, or Hjemmeværnseskadrille (Home Guard Squadron), STHVE, or Stabshjemmeværnseskadrille (Staff Home Guard Squadron), and FSD, or Flyverhjemmeværnsdeling (Aircraft Home Defense Division). At the command level, the Air Force Home Guard is led by a full-time Royal Danish Air Force colonel, supported by a small staff of full-time personnel. This combines professional military leadership with a predominantly volunteer force. The arrangement reflects the broader Danish Home Guard model, in which trained volunteers supplement Denmark’s regular defense and civil authorities rather than operating as a conventional commercial aviation organization or independent air force. The branch also operates an aviation capability. It uses two leased Britten-Norman Defender BN2A-21 aircraft, flown by volunteer civilian pilots. These aircraft entered service with the Air Force Home Guard in February 2016 and support aerial environmental patrols of Danish national waters, along with other observation and assistance duties within the organization’s remit. The use of civilian volunteer pilots gives the branch access to specialized aviation skills while preserving its close relationship with the volunteer-based Home Guard system. Its principal value is therefore institutional and operational rather than commercial. The Air Force Home Guard helps protect airports and aviation-related infrastructure, supports the Royal Danish Air Force, contributes aerial monitoring, and reinforces police and other authorities in emergencies. Its activities are conducted within Denmark as part of the country’s total-defense and national-preparedness framework.

The Air Force Home Guard, or Flyverhjemmeværnet, is the air-oriented branch of the Danish Home Guard. It forms part of Denmark’s broader volunteer defense and preparedness structure and exists to reinforce the Royal Danish Air Force, the police, and other public authorities. Its mission is not limited to conventional military air operations. The branch supports the protection of airports and related infrastructure, assists with emergency management, and conducts aerial environmental patrols over Danish national waters. The organization combines a professional command element with locally recruited volunteer units. It is commanded by a full-service Royal Danish Air Force colonel, assisted by a small staff of full-service personnel. Operationally, municipalities with airfields or located near airports host air force home guard squadrons. These units typically contain between 100 and 150 riflemen and are led by volunteer captains. The geographic distribution of the squadrons enables the organization to maintain a local presence around aviation facilities and to mobilize personnel in support of national authorities. The Flying Home Guard is described as consisting of 28 squadrons and two divisions. Its unit designations include HVE, meaning Hjemmeværnseskadrille or Home Guard Squadron; STHVE, meaning Stabshjemmeværnseskadrille or Staff Home Guard Squadron; and FSD, meaning Flyverhjemmeværnsdeling or Aircraft Home Defense Division. These formations provide the organizational framework for personnel, staff, and aircraft-related defense functions. A significant capability milestone occurred in February 2016, when two leased Britten-Norman Defender BN2A-21 aircraft entered service. The aircraft are flown by volunteer civilian pilots and are used in support of the branch’s aerial environmental patrols and observation responsibilities. Their operation adds an airborne dimension to a force otherwise substantially built around locally based security and support personnel. The Air Force Home Guard’s role is consequently best understood as an integrated support function within Denmark’s national-defense and emergency-management system. It does not replace the Royal Danish Air Force or the police. Instead, it provides trained volunteer manpower, local infrastructure protection, aerial patrol capacity, and reinforcement during incidents requiring additional resources. Public reference material identifies the organization as an active part of the Danish Home Guard, but does not provide a complete founding chronology, detailed leadership history, budget information, or a comprehensive account of individual operations.

• 2016

  Britten-Norman Defender aircraft enter service

  [1]Air Force Home Guarden.wikipedia.org

  Two leased Britten-Norman Defender BN2A-21 aircraft entered service with the Air Force Home Guard. The aircraft are flown by volunteer civilian pilots and support aerial environmental patrols and related observation duties.

A volunteer military support organization focused on aviation-related security, aerial observation, and national emergency preparedness within Denmark’s Home Guard system.

• Aerial patrol and surveillance capability · 2016

  Britten-Norman Defender BN2A-21 patrol aircraft

  The Air Force Home Guard operates two leased Britten-Norman Defender BN2A-21 aircraft. They entered service in February 2016 and are flown by volunteer civilian pilots. Their stated role includes aerial environmental patrols of Denmark’s national waters and support for the branch’s broader observation and emergency-management responsibilities.

• Volunteer security and emergency-support units

  Air force home guard squadrons

  Air force home guard squadrons are locally based units positioned in municipalities with airfields or near airports. They generally comprise approximately 100 to 150 riflemen under volunteer captains and support airport security, infrastructure protection, and assistance to national authorities.

1. 1Air Force Home Guarden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Air Force Home Guard pagehjemmevaernet.dk