Air force: four new Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets arrive in Denmark

This addition brings Denmark’s F-35 fleet to eight, with three more jets expected to arrive over the winter, increasing the total to 11. The new aircraft will progressively replace the ageing F-16 jets, which have served as Denmark’s primary defence force for decades.

Colonel Kim Jensen, head of Fighter Wing Skrydstrup, expressed his optimism about the significant impact the new jets will have on Denmark’s air force. “The arrival of more planes at Skrydstrup means we can move from basic training to more advanced scenarios, focusing on what we actually need the F-35 for in the future,” he stated.

The F-35s are part of Denmark’s strategic shift towards modernising its military capabilities. Since the first batch of four jets arrived in September 2023, Danish pilots and technicians have been adapting to the advanced systems and operations of the F-35.

The transition from F-16 to F-35 is both complex and transformative. While all personnel have undergone training in the U.S., integrating the jets into daily operations at Skrydstrup has been a major undertaking. Colonel Jensen highlighted the next operational milestone: “The planes, pilots, and technicians must be ready to begin taking over airspace defence duties from the F-16s in 2025.”

The latest arrivals undertook a long journey, departing from Fort Worth, USA, on 3 December and making a stopover in the Azores before reaching Denmark. This delivery signifies the growing readiness of Denmark’s air force to adopt the F-35 into active service.