New fighter aircraft

Denmark's new combat aircraft

With the acquisition of the F-35, Denmark's current operational capacity within fighter aircraft continues and ensures that Denmark continues the ability to assert Danish sovereignty, to be deployed in international operations at the level of obligations in relation to NATO's requirements and ultimately to contribute to NATO's collective defence of Danish and allied territory.

Denmark's ability as a sovereign state to guaranty its own security and Danish interests depend on the Armed Forces' ability to maintain flexible and effective capacities, including fighter aircraft. The tasks of the F-35 fighter aircraft will be to contribute to the surveillance of Danish and neighboring airspace, reject violations of Danish airspace and prevent conflicts and war. The F-35 replaces the more than 40-year-old F-16.

Type selection process

The type selection process began in 2013, and was a restart of an earlier type selection process that was put on hold in 2010. The type selection process included the Eurofighter, F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and F/A-18F Super Hornet. The purpose of the process was to create the best possible basis for a political decision on type selection among the three participating fighter aircraft candidates.

Summary in English

The fighter jet agreement

The decision to acquire 27 F-35 was made in the political agreement on new fighter aircrafts on 9 June 2016.