Denmark’s new fighter aircraft officially handed over

It was quite a draw when Fighter Wing Skrydstrup Sunday invited aviation-interested people in South Jutland to join when the first F-35 fighter jets were officially handed over to Denmark. Several thousand accepted the invitation and created queues on the roads when representatives of aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin met with a Danish delegation. This included Crown Prince Frederik, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, Business Minister Morten Bødskov and representatives of the Armed Forces. “With the arrival of the new F-35 fighter jets, we are starting a new chapter. It is the culmination of many years of preparation. And this is a really important step in a world where war has returned to European soil,” the Minister of Defence said in his speech at the ceremony.
     Denmark has ordered a total of 27 F-35s at a total cost in the region of DKK 16 billion. The first four aircraft were delivered two weeks ago, and the next delivery will follow in the second half of 2024. The F-35s replace the F-16, which has been the Air Force’s preferred fighter aircraft since 1980. F-35 is a so-called stealth aircraft that is difficult to spot on radar. The powerful engine ensures that the aircraft can fly at supersonic speed without using the afterburner, but it also means that the aircraft makes a lot more noise than its predecessor. /ritzau/