Denmark’s acquisition of additional F-35s will greatly support its defense and security efforts.
Denmark recently received four new F-35 Lightning II fighters following delivery delays. The fifth-generation jets arrived at Skrydstrup Air Base after completing their planned delivery flight from manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s facilities in the United States to the Azores, according to officials. The arrival of these four jets brings Denmark’s total F-35 fleet up to fifteen. Maj. Gen. Jan Dam, the commander of the Royal Air Force, noted in a public statement: “With the arrival of the four aircraft yesterday, we have taken another step towards building up the combat capability of the F-35 aircraft.” It appears the Lightning II program is back on track after experiencing some timing issues surrounding the implementation of the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade. Now that progress is commencing as planned, the Danish Air Force will be well-equipped in terms of aerial prowess.
Back in 2016, the Danish government first announced it would spend roughly $3 billion on twenty-seven F-35s to replace its aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons. Denmark received its first four Lightning IIs in 2023 and hopes to be able to field every fighter in this package before 2027, when the Danish Air Force’s F-16s are scheduled for retirement. The Joint Strike Fighter program is primarily funded by the United States, with additional funds from nine codevelopment partner nations. In addition to Denmark, Canada, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Norway have all played key roles in the F-35’s design and production. Currently, more than 1,100 F-35s have been exported across the globe, indicating the platform’s popularity.
Out of all the F-35’s top-notch attributes, perhaps logistics support is the most essential. The platform’s Automatic Logistics Information System (ALIS) allows the fighter to achieve unparalleled levels of reliability by integrating upgrades and maintenance seamlessly behind the scenes. As new technologies emerge, they can be more easily integrated into the F-35 platform, a cost-saving measure that has certainly contributed to the platform’s popularity.
In terms of stealth, the Lightning II also leads the way in aerial dominance. The F-35 was designed with a minimal radar cross-section, like its F-22 Raptor predecessor. The jet’s small cross-section and coating of radar-absorbent materials enable the jet to fly undetected. While flying in “stealth mode,” the Lightning II still packs a punch and can carry four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for air-to-air missions or a combination of four AIM-120/GBU-31 JDAM smart bombs for air-to-ground missions. However, this firepower can increase further when the fighter is in “beast mode,” enabling it to carry up to fourteen AIM-120 missiles for ground operations, two AIM-9x missiles for air-to-air missions, or four AIM-120/9X missiles coupled with six GBU-31s.
Considering these impressive specs and capabilities, it is no wonder the Lightning II arguably represents the most dominant fifth-generation jet to take to the skies. Denmark’s acquisition of additional F-35s will only support the Danish government’s defense and security efforts.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
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