Copenhagen - (AFP) - After announcing its donation to Ukraine of all its 19 French-made Caesar cannons , the Danish government indicated that it was negotiating with the Israeli company Elbit to purchase new mobile cannons.

The Danish Ministry of Defense announced Thursday evening that "the Danish Military Equipment Agency has begun negotiations with Elbit Systems to purchase ATMOS portable artillery pieces and PULS missile launchers as soon as possible."

The government said it may receive the equipment in 2023.

"The missile launchers complement the new artillery systems because initially it is not possible to deliver enough artillery pieces quickly enough to meet defense operational needs," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Denmark ordered 15 long-range artillery from France's Nexter range in 2017, and then four more in 2019. But deliveries have been delayed and only a few have been delivered. And it needs to quickly compensate for these defences, to ensure its contribution to NATO.

Defense Minister Jakob Ellimann Jensen said in the statement that these acquisitions are "important for Danish defense and for Denmark to be able to fulfill its obligations to NATO".

He added that the donation of artillery pieces to Ukraine "leaves a huge void in defense capabilities."

Danish media reported that the French Nexter group advised Denmark not to change the supplier, stressing that it was able to provide new parts.

A spokesman for the French group told public television, "Caesar cannons have proven themselves on the battlefield in Ukraine, Danish soldiers are able to use them, and they are compatible with Danish defense computer systems. For these three reasons, it would be inappropriate for the ministry to purchase Israeli systems that do not meet any of these criteria.