Denmark boosts air force with 16 more F-35s while announcing CCA plans
October 13, 2025
Denmark has announced it will purchase an additional 16 F-35s, bringing the total to 43, boasting its existing 27-programme-of-record by 60%. Like other European countries, Denmark is increasing investment in its military, with defence spending now accounting for over 3% of GDP.
Denmark orders 16 extra F-35 Lightning IIs
The Danish Ministry of Defence stated on 10th October that it will purchase 16 more F-35As to bolster its air force. It added that the ministry will now initiate a dialogue with the F-35 Joint Program Office on the details of the acquisition.
The announcement was part of a major defence spending boost that includes increased defence spending in the Arctic. Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The ministry said the dialogue will look into possibilities for the accelerated delivery of the new fighter jets to enable the rapid upscaling of the Danish Armed Forces’ combat power. The acquisition will include the procurement of additional replacement parts, threat simulators, flight simulators, and other equipment and training associated with the jets.
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 10, 2025
Dennark decides to buy another 16 F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. and will now have 43 F-35 in total.
The news comes as Denmark decides to spend another $4.4 billion on its military to secure Greenland and the waters around it from Russian and Chinese encroachment.
2… pic.twitter.com/XAS9ukXnTP
Importantly, the Ministry closed the public news release by saying it will also acquire “a number of unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).” No more information on the CCA acquisition was given.
The US Air Force is pioneering the development of CCAs or loyal wingman drones with Andruil’s YFQ-44A ‘Fury’ and General Atomic’s YFQ-42 leading the charge. Other companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Kratos, Dassault, Airbus, and Baykar are also developing loyal wingman drones at varying levels of capability.
The Danish Air Force transitioning to F-35s
Like other small countries, Denmark only operates a single type of fighter jet, and it is in the process of retiring its F-16s as it brings F-35s into service. The retiring F-16s are mostly being donated to Ukraine (19) or have been sold to Argentina (24). The final F-16s are expected to be withdrawn from service in 2025.
Denmark ordered its 27 F-35s in 2016, and the first of these was handed over to Denmark in 2023. Currently, Denmark has received 15 of its 27 F-35s, with six remaining in the United States for training. The remaining 12 are expected to be received in 2026.
Denmark announced its first F-35s were to be ready to be incorporated into its air-defence interception readiness in April 2025. They are expected to be fully operational in 2027.
The F-35 taking its place as the primary European fighter jet
Around 200 of the over 650 planned F-35s have now been delivered to European air forces. Except for Sweden, which has its own domestic Saab Gripen fighter jet, the Nordic countries have purchased the F-35.
Norway has become the first country to complete its programme of record and has now received all of its 52 planned jets. Meanwhile, Finland is expected to receive its first F-35s in 2026 as it works to replace its ageing fleet of F/A-18 Hornets.
The Netherlands has fully retired its F-16s and transitioned to the F-35, although it is still receiving its planned 57 jets. Neighbouring Belgium is planning to accelerate F-16 deliveries to Ukraine as it also starts to transition to the stealth fighter. Belgium recently increased its planned procurement from 34 to 45 jets.
All systems go! ✅
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) August 20, 2025
Belgium’s first F-35 takes to the skies—set to arrive in-country this fall! pic.twitter.com/HXSvkFheob
Elsewhere in the general neighbourhood, Poland is looking to bring its first F-35s home from training in the US in 2026, Germany is rapidly procuring 35 of the jets, and the United Kingdom is preparing to place another order, bringing its total to 72 ahead of eventually purchasing 138 F-35s.
