On January 18, 2026, the Royal Danish Air Force officially closed one of the longest and most significant chapters in its combat aviation history with the retirement of the last F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters.
These machines have ensured the protection of the country’s airspace for almost 46 years and symbolize the complete transition to a new fifth-generation fleet based on F-35 Lightning II.
+ Israel received three more F-35i Adir fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin
The farewell took place during a ceremony at the Skridstrup Air Base in the presence of Major General Jan Dam, Commander of the Air Force, and Lieutenant General Per Pugholm Olsen, Head of the Office for Defense Acquisitions. The Danish Defense Acquisition Authority reported on the event.
Almost half a century of service
Denmark’s first F-16 aircraft landed in the country on 18 January 1980. During the program, the Royal Danish Air Force received a total of 77 aircraft in the F-16A and F-16B versions in two main series, supplemented by two additional orders intended to replace prematurely retired airframes.
In the late 1970s, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands — members of the European Participating Air Forces — began searching for a replacement for the F-104 Starfighter. The group became the first international customer of the F-16 and, together with the United States, participated in the multinational development program of this fighter aircraft.
According to the industrial agreement, the aircraft intended for European countries were to be produced on the continent. First-series Danish F-16s were assembled by SABCA in Belgium, while second-series machines came from Fokker production lines in the Netherlands.
The original order included 46 single-seat F-16As and 12 two-seat F-16Bs, all in Block 1 standard, with deliveries beginning in January 1980. In August 1984, a further 12 extended-tail Block 15 aircraft—eight F-16As and four F-16Bs—built by Fokker were ordered to replace machines worn out by intensive service.
Transition to the F-35
Denmark has purchased 27 F-35A fighter jets to replace its aging fleet. The last US-made machines are expected to be delivered during 2026, with the entire fleet stationed at the base Skridstrupwhere the necessary infrastructure for the new type has already been completed.
The country has participated in the F-35 program since 1997. Following evaluations conducted in 2013–2016, the government officially recommended the purchase of at least 27 aircraft in May 2016. Parliament approved the program’s budget in 2017, with implementation planned by 2026.
The first Danish F-35A was received on 7 April 2021 directly from Lockheed Martin. Since then, the country has decided to expand the fleet by another 16 aircraft, strengthening its air defense and power projection capabilities within NATO.
By decommissioning the F-16, Denmark closes an era characterized by decades of interoperability and high readiness, and at the same time definitively confirms its entry into the most modern generation of combat aircraft.
Source and photo: Forsvarsministeriets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse – Facebook @FMI. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
