Today marks the final day in service for the Royal Danish Air Force’s (RDAF) Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons after a storied 46-year operational history encompassing air defence, NATO missions, combat deployments, and Arctic sovereignty patrols.
At a formal ceremony held at Skrydstrup Air Base, Denmark bid farewell to an aircraft that has been central to its air power since 1980, closing a chapter in military aviation and transitioning fully to the F-35A Lightning II as its frontline fighter.
Across its service life, Denmark operated 77 F-16s. As part of the retirement process:
🇺🇦 19 aircraft have been donated to Ukraine to support its defence against Russian aggression.
🇦🇷 24 jets have been sold to Argentina; deliveries continue as part of that transfer.
The remaining jets have either been decommissioned or were lost in accidents over decades of service.
This transition underscores not only Denmark’s modernization but also how ageing platforms are redistributed within the global aviation ecosystem.
Arctic Geopolitics: Greenland and Rising Tensions with the U.S.
The retirement of the F-16 occurs against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension between Denmark and the United States over Greenland — an autonomous Arctic territory that remains part of the Danish realm and central to Nordic security.
In early 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump reignited controversy by publicly asserting that the United States should acquire Greenland, allegedly “one way or the other,” citing its strategic location facing Russia and China. These comments sparked diplomatic friction between Copenhagen and Washington.
Denmark’s government has firmly rejected any proposal to cede sovereignty over Greenland, emphasising that the U.S. does not need ownership of the territory to contribute to Arctic defence, and asserting that any such idea is “out of the question” under international law.
In response to rising uncertainty and to reinforce Arctic readiness, Denmark has expanded its military presence in Greenland — deploying additional forces, aircraft patrols, and conducting exercises in close cooperation with NATO allies.
This buildup is part of Operation Arctic Endurance, a Danish-led NATO activity focused on strengthening allied interoperability and deterrence in one of the world’s most challenging operational environments.
A NATO Strain?
What makes the current situation unusual is that this tension is unfolding within NATO itself. While NATO has historically served as a platform for collective defence in the Arctic, differing interpretations between Denmark and the United States — particularly around Greenland’s future and strategic role — have introduced strains in transatlantic cooperation not seen in decades.
Demonstrations in Denmark and Greenland underscore widespread public opposition to claims of divestiture or foreign acquisition of the territory.
The F-16 Legacy and Denmark’s Strategic Future
Denmark’s F-16s were more than an airframe — they were a flexible tool of national and alliance deterrence for nearly half a century. They flew Baltic Air Policing missions, participated in overseas combat operations, and conducted sovereignty patrols in the Arctic. Their retirement consolidates Denmark’s transition to the fifth-generation F-35A, a platform central to future air operations in Europe and the North Atlantic.
At the same time, geopolitical realities in the High North — where airpower, maritime security, and alliance cohesion intersect — continue to evolve rapidly. The RDAF’s F-16s may be gone, but the region they helped secure remains a pivotal arena for strategic competition and alliance diplomacy.
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