Denmark Is Retiring Its F-16 Fleet – See The High-Tech Jet That’s Replacing It
After 46 years of service in the Royal Danish Air Force, Denmark retired its F-16 fighter jet fleet as of January 18, 2026. Denmark has been using this versatile but obsolete fighter jet since 1980 and purchased a total of 77 of these aircraft. A farewell ceremony was held at Skrydstrup Air Base Hangar 3, where four F-16s, which made a final flight over Danish territory, landed. Pilots, technicians and others who worked on F-16s greeted the guests and displayed the planes for the last time.
The history of the F-16 begins in the early 1970s, when a group of General Dynamics aerospace analysts and engineers designed what would become the F-16. Dissatisfied with the tendency for fighter jets to be made more difficult to maneuver and heavier than their predecessors, this group known as the Light Fighter Mafia created something completely different.
By emphasizing high speed and agility, the F-16 was aimed to be faster and more maneuverable than the fighters it would face, with the ability to evade any weapon used against it. The F-16 featured advanced technologies such as fly-by-wire and a head-up display. Over time, the F-16 was upgraded to perform a broader range of missions, including close air support and bombing operations. F-16, a civilian can buyDuring Operation Desert Storm in 1991, it both directed the bombing of Iraqi facilities and transformed into an aircraft that demonstrated its versatility to great advantage when it shot down a MIG in Iraq. Over 4,500 F-16s have been produced to date.
Read more: Top 10 World War II Fighter Planes
Which high-tech jet is replacing Denmark’s F-16s?
Front 3/4 view of F-35A Lightning II in flight – wz94/Shutterstock
Denmark is replacing the last of its F-16 aircraft with the F-35A Lightning II fighter jet, which has been used by the Danes since the first aircraft arrived in Denmark in 2023. On 1 April 2025, Denmark’s F-35s replaced F-16s in NATO’s Rapid Reaction Alert mission. In total, the Danish Ministry of Defense purchased a total of 43 F-35s, with 27 ordered in 2016 and 16 due in 2025. The F-35A is a single-seat aircraft powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engine and has 40,000 pounds of thrust.
Denmark’s transition to a full F-35A Lightning II fleet makes the Royal Danish Air Force the third air force in the world to consist entirely of F-35A fifth-generation fighters, after Norway in 2022 and the Netherlands in 2024. They have all replaced their old F-16 fleets with these state-of-the-art, multirole fighters. The replacement process has taken this long due to major delays in producing the F-35 for various forces around the world.
F-35 is coming many variants with different featuresMade in three different versions for various use cases. The F-35A, the version used by the US Air Force and Denmark, is designed for conventional takeoff and landing. Produced for the US Marine Corps, the F-35B has short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities. Produced for the US Navy, the F-35C is adapted to take off and land from the Navy’s aircraft carriers.
What will happen to Denmark’s F-16 fleet?
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in front of two Ukrainian F-16 aircraft – UkrPictures/Shutterstock
Denmark’s F-16 fighter jet fleet is heading to two different destinations. Although these F-16s are quite old, with the first batch delivered in 1980, the Danes have not only maintained them very well but also modernized them over the years. These actions helped make these aircraft more suitable for sale rather than scrapping.
A group of F-16s from the 19 aircraft that Denmark agreed to donate to the Ukrainian Air Force in 2023 will be donated to Ukraine. Ukraine has many types of combat aircraftDenmark has promised to support the costs related to the training of Ukrainian pilots in Denmark, as well as the costs for the maintenance and operations of these aircraft after they arrive in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force uses its F-16s primarily to defend the country against Russian drones and missiles, as well as to drop precision-guided bombs to provide close air support.
A total of 24 of Denmark’s F-16s will be sold to Argentina, which has no supersonic fighter jets in its arsenal since retiring the French Mirages in 2015. The US Government was heavily involved in this agreement due to export regulations. The Argentine F-16 package also includes training, parts and simulators to ensure proper maintenance and operation of the Argentine Air Force’s ‘new’ F-16s. The first six aircraft were delivered in December, with additional batches being delivered each year until 2028.
Want the latest in technology and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter One email at a time for the latest headlines, expert guides and how-to tips. Moreover add us as preferred search source on Google.
