Denmark to acquire additional F-35As

With a follow-on buy of 16 F-35As now announced, Denmark will have a fleet of 43 aircraft by the time deliveries are completed. (Danish MoD/Lockheed Martin)

Denmark is to acquire additional F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft as it looks to shore up its national defence capabilities.

Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen said on 10 October that a further 16 jets will be bought to add to the 27 already contracted and now being delivered.

“These are investments that are necessary in a difficult time,” the minister said.

News of the follow-on buy came some four-and-a-half years after F-35A deliveries to Denmark commenced in April 2021 (the first aircraft was physically transferred to Skveststrup Flyvestation in Southern Jutland in September 2023).

Denmark announced that it had selected the F-35A to replace the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon in May 2016. The country had previously stated that it aimed to procure 48 aircraft to replace the F-16, but this number was curtailed due to budget cuts. With the anticipated new order, the fleet will be at 43 aircraft, which is much closer to the original number.

Poulsen did not disclose when a contract might be signed.

For more information on the international F-35 programme, please see US DoD, Lockheed Martin finalise contract for nearly 300 F-35s .