COPENHAGEN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Denmark plans to buy

European-made air defence systems for 58 billion Danish crowns

($9.11 billion), its largest arms purchase ever, the country's

defence minister said on Friday, citing a challenging security

situation.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in February ordered

the military to "buy buy buy" equipment in preparation for

potential future Russian aggression in Europe.

Denmark plans to procure eight systems, including the

long-range SAMP/T platform produced by Eurosam, a consortium of

MBDA France, MBDA Italy and Thales, as well as medium-range

systems manufactured by Norway, Germany or France.

"There is no doubt that the security situation is

challenged," Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters

on Friday.

"We have seen how Russia has violated Polish airspace with

several drones... It is a reminder to all of us about the

importance of strengthening our combat power," he added.

Poland shot down suspected Russian drones in its airspace on

Wednesday with the backing of aircraft from its NATO allies, the

first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to

have fired shots during Russia's war in Ukraine.

The European systems can be delivered faster and cheaper

than the U.S. Patriot missile defence system, head of the Danish

defence acquisition and logistics organisation, Per Pugholm

Olsen, told a press conference.

($1 = 6.3672 Danish crowns)