Denmark announced on January 12 that it had delivered three more F-35 Lightning II fighter jets from the United States to Sklydstrup Air Base in Denmark’s southern Jutland region.
The arrival of the jets in Denmark is significant as Copenhagen is evaluating the possibility of deploying these stealth aircraft to Greenland as geopolitical competition over the Arctic intensifies.
The Danish Air Force has reportedly received 17 of the 27 F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters it ordered in 2021. Six of the 17 aircraft will be based at the U.S. Air Force’s Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, and the remaining 11 will operate in Denmark. .
F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin formalized ownership of the first four Danish-built F-35s to the Department of Defense Acquisition and Logistics Authority during a ceremony at Skrydstrup Air Force Base in October 2023. Transferred to.
Last year, Lockheed Martin delayed deliveries of F-35 aircraft due to issues with the so-called Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) update. As a result, the country was forced to take delivery of four more F-35s, albeit older models, in December 2024.
Finally, the Danish government decided to repatriate the three aircraft used for training in Arizona. According to reports, the remaining aircraft will be delivered in the TR-3 configuration during 2027.
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The TR3 configuration is essentially intended to equip the F-35 fighter with enhanced Block 4 capabilities by providing additional computing power. These upgrades include improved radar systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and the integration of long-range precision weapons.
With the deployment of fifth-generation fighters, Denmark hopes to strengthen NATO’s ability to deter and defend against threats in all domains, as well as strengthen the alliance’s collective defense in the Baltic Sea. The F-35 will replace the F-16MLU fighter in national emergency alert response (QRA) and air security missions.
Moreover, the delivery of these fighter jets is also important as the Scandinavian country considers operating these cutting-edge stealth fighters from Greenland. Copenhagen has announced that it will upgrade the decommissioned Kangerlussuaq Airport in Greenland to accommodate F-35 stealth aircraft.
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Due to its strategic location in the Arctic Circle, Greenland is a strategic territory for monitoring polar airspace and is likely to be passed by enemy military aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles in the event of an attack on North America. Additionally, the island is located near the Northwest Passage, a sea lane that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As global temperatures rise, sea lanes can only be navigated for short periods in late summer.
Over the past decade, climate change and melting glaciers have opened new avenues to explore the region’s resources. This has turned the Arctic into a new zone of geopolitical competition, with Western countries accusing Russia of militarizing the region. The distance from Greenland to the Russian border is only about 3,800 kilometers.
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The Pentagon also warned the US Congress about China’s growing interest in the region, including mineral-rich Greenland.
But Denmark’s intention to deploy F-35s to defend Greenland comes amid ominous signals from US President-elect Donald Trump about the need to control Greenland for security purposes. It is part of a plan to strengthen Denmark’s military presence on the autonomous island. ; Danish broadcasters TV2 and DR reported on January 10th.
Controversy over Greenland
US President-elect Donald Trump, who is scheduled to take office on January 20th, has caused controversy by announcing his desire to acquire Greenland for security purposes.
Greenland is considered essential to the US ballistic missile early warning system against possible military threats, particularly from Russia. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and is also home to the northernmost US military base, Pitufik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base). The U.S. Air Force has deployed four F-35 stealth fighters to Greenland’s Pitufik Space Base in preparation for a two-week North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) military training exercise in January 2023.
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Indeed, Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Balbin, recently claimed that the United States is upgrading the airfield infrastructure at its Greenland base for F-35 fighter jets.
Donald Trump has reiterated his calls to seize Greenland, even going so far as to say he will not give up using economic and military power to take control of the autonomous Danish territory. However, this did not work out well for either Greenland or Denmark.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Egede fired back, saying the island was not up for grabs. “Greenland is ours. We are not and will not be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Egede said. Ta.
President Trump’s comments prompted a more intense reaction from Denmark, a NATO ally. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lökke Rasmussen has stated quite flatly that Greenland has no ambitions to become a federal state in the United States.
However, in response, Denmark launched an all-round effort to strengthen the defense of Greenland, including significantly increasing defense spending.
Denmark’s Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said defense spending would amount to “double-digit billions” of krone, or at least US$1.5bn (£1.2bn).
Poulsen said the package also allows for the acquisition of two more dog sled teams, two new long-range drones and two new inspection vessels. It will also provide funding to upgrade one of Greenland’s three main civilian airports to accommodate F-35 fighter jets.
That said, Denmark has so far been extremely slow to build up its military in Greenland, but if Denmark fails to protect its surrounding waters from Russian and Chinese incursions, U.S. demands for further control over the territory will be threatened. will become stronger.
Therefore, deploying the F-35 to this strategic Arctic island could keep regional threats and U.S. demands at bay.
