On Friday, October 10, 2025, the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Denmark announced the completion of negotiations with the United States for the purchase of an additional 16 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter jets, which will increase the fleet to a total of 43 aircraft. The plans were initially announced on March 25 this year.
Photos: Forsvarets
“With the acquisition of 16 additional F-35 fighter jets, we deliver a historic strengthening of the Danish Air Force and the Danish Armed Forces. I am very pleased that we have concluded this agreement on the additional F-35 acquisition, which significantly increases the combat power of the Danish Armed Forces,” says Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen.
The Ministry of Defence will now begin discussions with the U.S.-based F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) regarding the details of the purchase of additional F-35A aircraft, including the possibility of accelerating their delivery to support the rapid expansion of the Danish Armed Forces’ combat capabilities.
“Expanding the fleet of F-35 fighter jets is a key decision in the build-up of the Danish Armed Forces. The F-35 fighter jets are already a crucial operational part of both operations and assertion of sovereignty. With the decision to acquire 16 additional fighter jets the combat power, flexibility and Danish contribution to NATO is increased significantly,” says Danish Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard.
The Ministry of Defence will now begin discussions with the U.S.-based F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) regarding the details of the purchase of additional F-35A aircraft, including the possibility of accelerating their delivery to support the rapid expansion of the Danish Armed Forces’ combat capabilities.
The purchase will include additional spare parts, combat and flight simulators, training instruments, arresting parachutes, expeditionary deployment kits, infrastructure, and additional personnel.
Interestingly, alongside the aircraft themselves, the acquisition will also include a number of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), so-called Loyal Wingmen, although the exact type was not specified. Two competing prototypes are currently being tested in the U.S. for the USAF: the YFQ-42A from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (offered in Europe) and the YFQ-44A from Anduril Industries. Other types are also possible, including the Europe-marketed XQ-58A Valkyrie from Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Recently proposed industrial concepts still in development include Vectis from Lockheed Martin and CA-1 Europa from Helsing.
Denmark originally decided to purchase 27 F-35A aircraft in May 2016, with an intergovernmental agreement worth 56.4 billion DKK (then 8.65 billion USD) signed the following year – although the country has been a Level 3 partner in the F-35 JSF program since 2002 (initially planning to acquire 48 aircraft). As a result, Danish companies were integrated into the global supply chain for F-35 components used in aircraft worldwide. In addition, Denmark established a maintenance center responsible for servicing sixteen avionics components of the aircraft.
The first Danish F-35A was unveiled on February 28, 2021, at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility in Texas, although the first Danish pilot flew an American F-35A a month earlier. Deliveries began in September 2023, were accelerated in June 2024, and are scheduled to be completed by 2027. According to the latest updates, nine aircraft have already been transferred to Denmark out of the 15 delivered so far. The user is the 727th Fighter Squadron (Eskadrille 727) of the Royal Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet), based at Skrydstrup Air Base in the Southern Jutland Region.
The F-35As replace 29 Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM MLU Block 10/15 multirole fighters (plus 16 reserve aircraft), officially assuming combat duties on April 1 this year (full operational capability is expected in 2027). Of the retired F-16s, 25 were sold to Argentina, and 19 will go to Ukraine as military aid (with 12 delivered so far).
Recently, Denmark selected the Eurosam SAMP/T NG air and missile defense system, as well as IRIS-T SLM and VL MICA systems from France, along with leased NASAMS batteries. The country also purchased MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, while Boeing has offered P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
Regarding the F-35 program, Canada has confirmed the purchase of its first 16 F-35As (out of 88 planned, with additional procurement under review), and Belgium has decided to buy 11 more F-35As, increasing its order to 45 aircraft (instead of the previously planned 55). The first four Belgian F-35As are scheduled to arrive in the country on October 13 this year. In Portugal, which identified the F-35A Lightning II as the successor to its F-16s, recent political debate has questioned the feasibility of the acquisition, although the military maintains its intent to procure the aircraft.
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— Forsvarsministeriet/Danish MoD (@Forsvarsmin) October 10, 2025
