The lawmakers are to meet representatives of the US Defense Department, the State Department and the National Security Council for talks between September 10 and 13, as well as members of Congress.

Denmark has a particular interest in the missile plan because it is likely to involve a major US base on its territory, at Thule in Greenland.

The delegation's US trip follows a visit by American technical experts to the Thule radar base, to determine whether it will play a role in the planned missile shield system.

The Danish parliamentary delegation is to go on to visit Moscow in October to discuss the project with Russian officials.

Moscow is strongly opposed to President George W. Bush's missile defence plans, which will mean the scrapping of the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty.