Denmark to order at least ten more US-made F-35A stealth fighter jets to strengthen NATO response capability
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On July 9, 2025, Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed during an interview with TV2 that Denmark plans to order a minimum of ten additional F-35A fighter aircraft from the United States before October. This planned acquisition comes in response to available production capacity on the U.S. assembly lines, which the Danish delegation, including Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard, discussed during meetings in Washington, D.C. According to TV2’s U.S. correspondent Lotte Mejlhede, placing an order now or in the fall will allow Denmark to avoid delays associated with longer queues. This consideration stems from the current low demand pressure on Lockheed Martin’s production facilities, creating a temporary opportunity for faster deliveries.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The new F-35A fighters are intended to support Denmark’s quick reaction alert (QRA) duties, which include intercepting foreign military aircraft, such as Russian jets approaching Danish airspace. (Picture source: Danish MoD)
Minister Poulsen indicated that the planned F-35A purchase would involve a “very large amount of billions,” though no precise cost figure was provided. He also did not offer a fixed date for when the full Danish fleet would be operational. Instead, he emphasized that the complete phase-in of the F-35s depends on delivery schedules, service and maintenance conditions, and the broader economic framework. The government expects that the fleet could be fully phased in by the late 2020s. With this new potential order, the Danish inventory would rise to at least 37 aircraft. Of the initial 27 F-35As ordered, 15 are already stationed in Denmark following deliveries that resumed after temporary delays linked to the implementation of the TR-3 upgrade, and six remain at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, used for training Danish pilots and technical personnel.
The additional purchase aligns with Denmark’s efforts to meet updated NATO capability targets. TV2’s defence correspondent, Anders Lomholt, noted that the plan to acquire around ten more aircraft had been anticipated internally even before NATO raised its force goals. The new fighters are intended to support Denmark’s quick reaction alert (QRA) duties, which include intercepting foreign military aircraft, such as Russian jets approaching Danish airspace. Beyond routine air policing, the additional aircraft would contribute to Denmark’s national preparedness for crisis and wartime operations. The Royal Danish Air Force began using F-35s for such missions in March 2025, when two aircraft intercepted a Russian military plane over the Baltic Sea. The transition to the F-35 is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, replacing the older F-16 fleet for national air defence tasks.
Denmark’s involvement in the F-35 program began in 2002, when it joined the Joint Strike Fighter program as a Level 3 partner with a $110 million investment. The original plan to acquire 48 new fighter jets was reduced to 30 and later to 27 aircraft, following political and financial negotiations. In June 2016, the Danish Defence Committee approved the purchase of 27 F-35As for an estimated $3 billion. Despite a legal challenge by Boeing, which had offered the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the decision was upheld in 2018. The Royal Danish Air Force received its first four aircraft in September 2023, with several more arriving in phases. Notably, a flock of birds delayed the arrival of four jets during a December 2024 transit through the Azores, causing a one-day delay due to damage inspection protocols.
Deliveries have continued throughout 2025. In January, three more aircraft arrived in Denmark, bringing the total to 17, including those used for training abroad. In May 2025, four additional aircraft were delivered from Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Texas via the Azores, bringing the total number of F-35s based in Denmark to 15. Six jets remain stationed at Luke Air Force Base in the U.S. for pilot training and conversion courses, which are required for all F-35A users except Israel. Denmark intends to maintain this arrangement, keeping six aircraft permanently assigned to Luke through 2027. The Danish Ministry of Defence stated that the program is back on schedule following the resolution of TR-3 integration delays that had disrupted the global delivery timeline.
The F-35A, the conventional take-off and landing variant (CTOL) of the American F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, features stealth shaping, internal weapons bays, and a suite of advanced sensors, including an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), and Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS). The F-35A is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, generating up to 178 kN with afterburner, allowing it to reach a top speed of Mach 1.6, or approximately 1,960 km/h. Its maximum takeoff weight is 31,751 kg, and the aircraft has a service ceiling of 15,240 meters. The combat radius of the F-35A is over 1,000 kilometers without external tanks, and it is capable of internal carriage of up to 2,585 kg of munitions, expandable to a total of 8,165 kg using both internal and external hardpoints. Its armament includes a built-in GAU-22/A 25 mm four-barrel rotary cannon with a capacity of 180 rounds. The variant supports boom and receptacle aerial refueling and has no two-seat version. The F-35A’s integrated avionics provide sensor fusion and networked data sharing across domains, which is intended to support NATO’s Multi-Domain Operations framework.
The F-35A’s domestic implementation at Fighter Wing Skrydstrup in southern Jutland has included infrastructure upgrades, expanded airspace for training over the North Sea, and continued cooperation with civilian air traffic authorities. Since 2020, the Danish F-35 program has been supported by a political agreement passed in 2017, funding the procurement and integration phases through 2026. By early 2025, the Ministry of Defence declared the F-35 ready to assume QRA duties, and in March, the aircraft took part in NATO’s Ramstein Flag exercise. In parallel, Denmark has pledged to donate some of its retired F-16s to Ukraine as part of a joint initiative with the Netherlands and Norway. Training for pilots and ground crews continues in the U.S., while operational experience is being built domestically through live missions and exercises.
As part of the Joint Strike Fighter industrial structure, Danish firms such as Terma and Systematic participate in production and maintenance under the “best value” principle. Terma supplies mission-critical composite components and external gun pods for the B and C variants, even though Denmark only operates the F-35A. Danish industry is not entitled to offset contracts, as this is prohibited under the terms of the international partnership. The Danish F-35 fleet uses tail numbers beginning with “L,” starting with L-001, which first flew in March 2021. Additional Danish contributions include the Avionics Test Center Denmark, jointly operated by Terma and Scandinavian Avionics, which provides support for avionics components for the European F-35 fleet starting in 2025. Denmark’s role in the program remains consistent with its financial and technological commitments made during the development, demonstration, and production phases.
The planned expansion of the Danish fleet occurs within the broader context of increased defence investment. In February 2025, the government allocated over 3 percent of national GDP to defence spending for the coming two years, amounting to approximately $7 billion. This includes the creation of an Acceleration Fund for expedited procurement and support for Arctic security, as reflected in a $2 billion Arctic defence initiative announced in January. Denmark has also increased its participation in NATO-wide exercises and interoperability efforts, including joint training missions with Swedish Gripen fighters. The F-35’s role within these operations reflects its position as a sensor platform capable of supporting multi-domain operations. According to official Danish communications, the fighter is considered integral to Denmark’s ability to participate in collective defence, international deployments, and the maintenance of national sovereignty across the Arctic and Baltic regions.
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On July 9, 2025, Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed during an interview with TV2 that Denmark plans to order a minimum of ten additional F-35A fighter aircraft from the United States before October. This planned acquisition comes in response to available production capacity on the U.S. assembly lines, which the Danish delegation, including Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard, discussed during meetings in Washington, D.C. According to TV2’s U.S. correspondent Lotte Mejlhede, placing an order now or in the fall will allow Denmark to avoid delays associated with longer queues. This consideration stems from the current low demand pressure on Lockheed Martin’s production facilities, creating a temporary opportunity for faster deliveries.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The new F-35A fighters are intended to support Denmark’s quick reaction alert (QRA) duties, which include intercepting foreign military aircraft, such as Russian jets approaching Danish airspace. (Picture source: Danish MoD)
Minister Poulsen indicated that the planned F-35A purchase would involve a “very large amount of billions,” though no precise cost figure was provided. He also did not offer a fixed date for when the full Danish fleet would be operational. Instead, he emphasized that the complete phase-in of the F-35s depends on delivery schedules, service and maintenance conditions, and the broader economic framework. The government expects that the fleet could be fully phased in by the late 2020s. With this new potential order, the Danish inventory would rise to at least 37 aircraft. Of the initial 27 F-35As ordered, 15 are already stationed in Denmark following deliveries that resumed after temporary delays linked to the implementation of the TR-3 upgrade, and six remain at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, used for training Danish pilots and technical personnel.
The additional purchase aligns with Denmark’s efforts to meet updated NATO capability targets. TV2’s defence correspondent, Anders Lomholt, noted that the plan to acquire around ten more aircraft had been anticipated internally even before NATO raised its force goals. The new fighters are intended to support Denmark’s quick reaction alert (QRA) duties, which include intercepting foreign military aircraft, such as Russian jets approaching Danish airspace. Beyond routine air policing, the additional aircraft would contribute to Denmark’s national preparedness for crisis and wartime operations. The Royal Danish Air Force began using F-35s for such missions in March 2025, when two aircraft intercepted a Russian military plane over the Baltic Sea. The transition to the F-35 is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, replacing the older F-16 fleet for national air defence tasks.
Denmark’s involvement in the F-35 program began in 2002, when it joined the Joint Strike Fighter program as a Level 3 partner with a $110 million investment. The original plan to acquire 48 new fighter jets was reduced to 30 and later to 27 aircraft, following political and financial negotiations. In June 2016, the Danish Defence Committee approved the purchase of 27 F-35As for an estimated $3 billion. Despite a legal challenge by Boeing, which had offered the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the decision was upheld in 2018. The Royal Danish Air Force received its first four aircraft in September 2023, with several more arriving in phases. Notably, a flock of birds delayed the arrival of four jets during a December 2024 transit through the Azores, causing a one-day delay due to damage inspection protocols.
Deliveries have continued throughout 2025. In January, three more aircraft arrived in Denmark, bringing the total to 17, including those used for training abroad. In May 2025, four additional aircraft were delivered from Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Texas via the Azores, bringing the total number of F-35s based in Denmark to 15. Six jets remain stationed at Luke Air Force Base in the U.S. for pilot training and conversion courses, which are required for all F-35A users except Israel. Denmark intends to maintain this arrangement, keeping six aircraft permanently assigned to Luke through 2027. The Danish Ministry of Defence stated that the program is back on schedule following the resolution of TR-3 integration delays that had disrupted the global delivery timeline.
The F-35A, the conventional take-off and landing variant (CTOL) of the American F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, features stealth shaping, internal weapons bays, and a suite of advanced sensors, including an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), and Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS). The F-35A is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, generating up to 178 kN with afterburner, allowing it to reach a top speed of Mach 1.6, or approximately 1,960 km/h. Its maximum takeoff weight is 31,751 kg, and the aircraft has a service ceiling of 15,240 meters. The combat radius of the F-35A is over 1,000 kilometers without external tanks, and it is capable of internal carriage of up to 2,585 kg of munitions, expandable to a total of 8,165 kg using both internal and external hardpoints. Its armament includes a built-in GAU-22/A 25 mm four-barrel rotary cannon with a capacity of 180 rounds. The variant supports boom and receptacle aerial refueling and has no two-seat version. The F-35A’s integrated avionics provide sensor fusion and networked data sharing across domains, which is intended to support NATO’s Multi-Domain Operations framework.
The F-35A’s domestic implementation at Fighter Wing Skrydstrup in southern Jutland has included infrastructure upgrades, expanded airspace for training over the North Sea, and continued cooperation with civilian air traffic authorities. Since 2020, the Danish F-35 program has been supported by a political agreement passed in 2017, funding the procurement and integration phases through 2026. By early 2025, the Ministry of Defence declared the F-35 ready to assume QRA duties, and in March, the aircraft took part in NATO’s Ramstein Flag exercise. In parallel, Denmark has pledged to donate some of its retired F-16s to Ukraine as part of a joint initiative with the Netherlands and Norway. Training for pilots and ground crews continues in the U.S., while operational experience is being built domestically through live missions and exercises.
As part of the Joint Strike Fighter industrial structure, Danish firms such as Terma and Systematic participate in production and maintenance under the “best value” principle. Terma supplies mission-critical composite components and external gun pods for the B and C variants, even though Denmark only operates the F-35A. Danish industry is not entitled to offset contracts, as this is prohibited under the terms of the international partnership. The Danish F-35 fleet uses tail numbers beginning with “L,” starting with L-001, which first flew in March 2021. Additional Danish contributions include the Avionics Test Center Denmark, jointly operated by Terma and Scandinavian Avionics, which provides support for avionics components for the European F-35 fleet starting in 2025. Denmark’s role in the program remains consistent with its financial and technological commitments made during the development, demonstration, and production phases.
The planned expansion of the Danish fleet occurs within the broader context of increased defence investment. In February 2025, the government allocated over 3 percent of national GDP to defence spending for the coming two years, amounting to approximately $7 billion. This includes the creation of an Acceleration Fund for expedited procurement and support for Arctic security, as reflected in a $2 billion Arctic defence initiative announced in January. Denmark has also increased its participation in NATO-wide exercises and interoperability efforts, including joint training missions with Swedish Gripen fighters. The F-35’s role within these operations reflects its position as a sensor platform capable of supporting multi-domain operations. According to official Danish communications, the fighter is considered integral to Denmark’s ability to participate in collective defence, international deployments, and the maintenance of national sovereignty across the Arctic and Baltic regions.
