Koninklijke Deense Luchtmacht

Slagorde · Denmark

Koninklijke Deense Luchtmacht

Flyvevåbnet

The Royal Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet) was formed on 1 October 1950 from two small army and navy air services that had been wiped out or grounded by the German invasion of 9 April 1940, grew up on American aid, and for 46 years flew F-16s into almost every NATO air war from Kosovo to Libya — and in 2026 it has retired the F-16 for 43 F-35s, sent its old jets to Ukraine and Argentina, and is spending more than ever on the Arctic and on air defence.

Nationale markeringA red disc with a white centre
Slechte zichtbaarheidThe roundel in subdued grey tones
21Gevechtsvliegtuigen
4Actieve luchtbases
1950Opgericht
25Typen gepensioneerd
Photo: Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
LandDenemarkenOpgericht1950StatusActiefHoofdkwartierKarupCommandantJan Dam
Het verhaal

The Royal Danish Air Force story: grounded in 1940, built on American aid, at war with the F-16

1912–1945: two small air services, and one morning at Værløse

Danish military flying began with gifts. The navy received a Henri Farman from Valdemar Ludvigsen on 25 March 1912; the army got its first aircraft, a B. & S. monoplane, from Captain Torben Grut on 2 July 1912. The army’s flyers became the Flyverkorps in 1923 and Hærens Flyvertropper on 1 November 1932, moving to Værløse in 1934; the naval air service (Marinens Flyvevæsen) flew from Copenhagen harbour. Neither was large, and on 9 April 1940 neither was allowed to fight. German fighters strafed Værløse that morning: the Nature Agency’s history counts 11 of the 45 aircraft on the field destroyed and 14 badly damaged, and the one aircraft that got airborne was shot down with its crew. Denmark capitulated at six o’clock. Military flying was then banned, and in November 1943, after the fleet had been scuttled, the navy’s remaining aircraft were destroyed so the Germans could not have them.

1950–1970: an air force built from American aid

The two services resumed after 1945 with British and surplus types — 38 Spitfire HF IXs, eight PR XIs, 16 Catalinas and even a single B-17G — and on 20 January 1950 three Gloster Meteors bought from Britain brought the first jets. Parliament merged the army and navy flyers into an independent service, Flyvevåbnet, on 1 October 1950, with a plan for eight combat squadrons. What made that plan real was American military aid: 238 F-84G Thunderjets, handed over free, then 59 F-86D all-weather fighters and F-100 Super Sabres for the strike role from 1959. Denmark bought its own 30 Hawker Hunter F.51 day fighters, the first two arriving on 31 January 1956. Aalborg, Karup and Skrydstrup became NATO main air bases, and Eskadrille 727, formed on 1 November 1952, is still flying. The weakness of this model was dependence: types arrived in bulk, free, and were replaced within a decade.

1964–1993: Starfighter, Draken and the F-16 deal

The F-104G Starfighter joined Eskadrille 723 and 726 in 1964 and served until 1986. In 1968 Denmark chose the Saab 35 Draken over the Mirage III and the F-5; the attack, reconnaissance and training versions flew with Eskadrille 725 and 729 at Karup from 1970 until 1993. Between 1974 and 1977 Denmark built 84 hardened aircraft shelters at its military air stations. The decisive step was the four-nation European F-16 purchase with Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway: the first Danish F-16 landed at Skrydstrup in 1980, flown by Christian Hvidt, later Chief of Defence. By 1989 the service had 105 operational fighters, Drakens and F-16s. After the Cold War it shrank — from about 5,800 people in 1986 to 4,200 in 2004 — the Drakens went in 1993, Karup lost its fighters, Værløse closed on 28 March 2004, and in 2006 every Danish combat aircraft was concentrated at Skrydstrup.

1999–2016: a small air force at war, from Grazzanise to Sigonella

The official history calls 1998–1999 the air force’s baptism of fire. Four F-16s went to Grazzanise in Italy on 21 January 1999, eight by April; in Operation Allied Force they flew about 600 sorties, mostly air defence patrols, and on 30 May 1999 Major Max Vilhelmsen dropped the service’s first bombs in anger, six unguided Mk 82s on a communications centre. From Manas in Kyrgyzstan in 2002–2003, alongside Dutch and Norwegian F-16s, Danish jets flew 743 missions over Afghanistan. Libya in 2011 was the high point: six F-16s at Sigonella flew about 600 missions from 20 March to 31 October and dropped 923 precision-guided munitions, a share of the strike campaign far out of proportion to Denmark’s size. F-16s fought Islamic State in Iraq in 2014–2016. The good side was a small force that could deploy quickly and bomb accurately; the other side was a fleet of 1980s airframes flown hard for four decades.

2016–2026: the F-35 arrives, the F-16 goes to Ukraine and Argentina

Parliament chose the F-35A to replace the F-16 on 9 June 2016, for 27 aircraft. The first four reached Skrydstrup in September 2023 — the first with a Danish pilot landed on 14 September — and were handed over before about 8,000 guests on 1 October 2023. The F-35 flew its first alert mission against a Russian Il-20 at the end of March 2025 and took over quick reaction alert on 1 April 2025. On 10 October 2025 the government and the defence parties agreed 16 more for 29.0 billion kroner, taking the fleet to 43; at that point 15 were in Denmark and six at the training base in the United States. The F-16 made its last Danish flight on 18 January 2026 after 46 years. Denmark pledged 19 to Ukraine in August 2023 and sold 24 to Argentina, the first six handed over on 6 December 2025. The original 2016 price and later cost growth of the F-35 programme were not checked for this page and are left out.

Greenland, air defence and the money: what has changed, and what is still missing

The money changed in 2025: the defence appropriation rose from 37.4 billion kroner in 2024 to 68.5 billion, and in February 2026 the government set a course for 3.5 per cent of GDP from 2026. Two Arctic packages (about 14.6 billion kroner in January 2025 and 27.4 billion in October 2025) pay for four long-range surveillance drones to fly from Aalborg from 2028, two P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft announced on 7 July 2026, and a radar in East Greenland; Danish F-35s were the first contribution to NATO’s Arctic Sentry in February 2026. Denmark has rebuilt a ground-based air defence it scrapped in 2005: an Air Defence Wing formed on 26 March 2025 and had NASAMS operational at Skalstrup by December, with eight systems planned. What is still missing is capacity: one Challenger at Kangerlussuaq and monthly Hercules visits are the permanent air presence in Greenland, the drones and patrol aircraft are years away, and no successor to the C-130J was found on the official sites checked.

The two services resumed after 1945 with British and surplus types — 38 Spitfire HF IXs, eight PR XIs, 16 Catalinas and even a single B-17G — and on 20 January 1950 three Gloster Meteors bought from Britain brought the first jets.Royal Danish Air Force · verified 2026-09-28
In één oogopslag

The Royal Danish Air Force in numbers

Dienst

Inheemse naam
FlyvevåbnetThe official Danish name on forsvaret.dk. The English name used in NATO is Royal Danish Air Force; Danish Defence’s own pages call the command that runs it Flyverkommandoen (Air Command)
Opgericht
1 October 1950Formed by merging the Army Air Corps (Hærens Flyvertropper) and the Naval Air Service (Marinens Flyvevæsen). The army flew its first aircraft in 1912; the naval air service dates itself to 1 February 1913 in Lex, while Wikipedia gives 14 December 1911
Onderdeel van
Danish Defence (Forsvaret)One of the services under the Chief of Defence, General Michael Hyldgaard. Navy and army helicopters were transferred to the air force: the army’s in 2003 and the navy’s role is now flown by Eskadrille 723’s MH-60R
Hoofdkwartier
Air Command, KarupFlyverkommandoen, Herningvej 30, 7470 Karup J. Karup has been the air force’s command base since the 1950s
Chief of Air Command
Maj. Gen. Jan DamInstalled on 17 May 2021 at Karup after serving as chief of staff and acting chief
Minister of Defence
Jeppe BruusTook over from Troels Lund Poulsen on 3 June 2026

Kracht

Personeel
About 2,500Danish Defence’s own figure for the air force. It had about 5,800 people in 1986 and 4,200 in 2004
Gevechtsvliegtuigen
  • F-35A Lightning II — 21 delivered by October 2025 (15 in Denmark, 6 in the US), 43 bought

The F-16 was retired on 18 January 2026. The last of the first 27 F-35s was due in 2026; a delivery count for September 2026 was not confirmed on an official page

Transport en speciale missie
  • C-130J-30 Hercules — 4
  • CL-604 Challenger — 4

Both with Eskadrille 721 at Aalborg; one Challenger is permanently with Air Group West at Kangerlussuaq in Greenland

Helikopters
  • AW101 (EH101) Merlin — 14 bought
  • MH-60R Seahawk — 9
  • AS550 Fennec — 11 in service (12 bought)

All at Karup with Eskadrille 722, 723 and 724. Merlins hold search and rescue at Skrydstrup, Aalborg and Roskilde around the clock

Trainers
  • T-17 Supporter — about 25 (32 bought)

Elementary training at the Flying School, Karup; jet training is done abroad

Grondgebonden luchtverdediging
NASAMS operational since December 2025Air Defence Wing at Skalstrup, formed 26 March 2025. Eight medium- and long-range systems (SAMP/T, NASAMS, IRIS-T, VL MICA) are to follow
Defensiebudget
68.5 billion kroner (2025)Up from 37.4 billion in 2024, an increase of over 80 per cent; the government’s plan of 24 February 2026 aims at 3.5 per cent of GDP from 2026

Infrastructuur

Luchtstations
  • Skrydstrup — Fighter Wing, F-35
  • Aalborg — Air Transport Wing, C-130J and Challenger
  • Karup — Air Command, Helicopter Wing, Flying School
  • Skalstrup — Air Defence Wing

Danish Defence lists three flying air stations; Skalstrup houses the new ground-based air defence

Gesloten luchtbases
  • Værløse — closed 28 March 2004
  • Vandel — army flying to 2003
  • Tirstrup — military station closed 1998
  • Avnø — flying school to 1993

Plus Kløvermarken, the Copenhagen field of 1909–1928

Quick reaction alert
Two F-35s at SkrydstrupScrambles: 80 in 2022, 55 in 2023, 81 in 2024 and 89 in 2025 up to 30 November, nearly all over the Baltic
Zoek- en reddingsactie
Three standby sitesSkrydstrup, Aalborg and Roskilde, 24 hours a day; a further helicopter can be placed at Rønne on Bornholm in bad weather
Greenland
No Danish air baseA Challenger at Kangerlussuaq and Hercules detachments about ten days a month. Pituffik (formerly Thule) is a US Space Force base under the 1951 defence agreement
Hardened shelters
84 built 1974–1977At the six military air stations of the time; 11 still stand at Værløse
Structuur

How the Royal Danish Air Force is organised

One headquarters at Karup over three flying wings and a new air defence wing. Since 2006 every Danish combat aircraft has been at Skrydstrup; transport flies from Aalborg, and every helicopter the air force owns flies from Karup. Army and navy helicopter roles have passed to the air force, the army’s in 2003.

JD

Major General (generalmajor)Jan DamChief of Air Command (chef for Flyverkommandoen) · in office since 2021
Air CommandFlyverkommandoen
Hoofdkwartier

Air Command

Flyverkommandoen
Karup

Runs the air force under Danish Defence, led by Maj. Gen. Jan Dam since 17 May 2021. Karup has been the air force’s command base since the 1950s.

Frontlinie

Fighter Wing Skrydstrup

Skrydstrup

Every Danish combat aircraft since 2006: Eskadrille 727 with the F-35A, 43 bought, and the two fighters on quick reaction alert. The F-16 flew its last Danish sortie on 18 January 2026.

Vervoer

Air Transport Wing Aalborg

Aalborg

Eskadrille 721 with four C-130J-30 Hercules and four CL-604 Challengers, and the air force’s link to Greenland: one Challenger is permanently at Kangerlussuaq.

Helicopters and training

Helicopter Wing Karup

Karup

Every helicopter the air force owns — the Merlins of Eskadrille 722, the MH-60R Seahawks of 723 and the Fennecs of 724 — and the Flying School’s T-17s. Merlins stand 24-hour rescue watch at Skrydstrup, Aalborg and Roskilde.

Air control

Air Control Wing

Karup

The air force’s air control wing, based at Karup alongside the Helicopter Wing.

Luchtverdediging

Air Defence Wing

Skalstrup

Formed on 26 March 2025 to rebuild the ground-based air defence Denmark scrapped in 2005. NASAMS has been operational since December 2025; SAMP/T, NASAMS, IRIS-T and VL MICA were chosen for eight systems in all.

In dienst

What the Royal Danish Air Force flies today

Elk type is gekoppeld aan de bijbehorende pagina in het Boek der Beesten, indien aanwezig. Het aantal vliegtuigen betreft de geregistreerde vliegtuigen, niet de vliegtuigen die op een bepaalde dag beschikbaar zijn.

Type Rol In dienst Sinds Eenheden Notities
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIIn dienst Stealth multirole gevechtsvliegtuig 21 2023 — 21 delivered at 10 October 2025: 15 in Denmark and six at the training base in the United States. 43 bought in all (27 agreed in 2016, 16 more on 10 October 2025); 22 still to come.
Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 HerculesIn dienst Tactisch transport 4 2003 — Four in service. The museum list gives the C-130J from 2003 with three aircraft, before the fourth was added; Danish Defence dates the replacement of the C-130H from 2005.
Bombardier CL-604 ChallengerIn dienst Surveillance, transport and VIP 4 1998 — Four in service; the museum list gives three from 1998, before the fourth was added.
AgustaWestland AW101 (EH101) MerlinIn dienst Zoek- en reddingsoperaties en tactisch transport 14 2007 — 14 bought in 2001 and delivered by 2010.
Sikorsky MH-60R SeahawkIn dienst Maritime helicopter 9 2017 — Nine.
Airbus Helicopters AS550 C2 FennecIn dienst Light utility and reconnaissance helicopter 11 1991 — 11 in service per Wikipedia; 12 bought per the museum list.
Saab MFI-17 Supporter (T-17)In dienst Elementaire trainer 25 1975 — About 25 in service per Wikipedia; 32 bought per the museum list.
T-1725
F-35A21
Merlin14
Fennec11
MH-60R9
C-130J4
CL-6044

Op bestelling

Type Besteld Eerste levering Notities
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIOp bestelling 22 2023 43 bought in all; 21 had been delivered on 10 October 2025. The last of the original 27 was due in 2026.

Meer

The 16 agreed on 10 October 2025 cost 29.0 billion kroner including spare parts, weapons, simulators and infrastructure, and the package also covers collaborative combat aircraft (unmanned escorts). Delivery years for the extra 16 were not published.
Boeing P-8A PoseidonOp bestelling 2 Announced 7 July 2026 under the second Arctic and North Atlantic agreement, for anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and sovereignty enforcement.

Meer

Cost, base and delivery dates were not published; cooperation with allies on a shared unit is being explored.
Long-range surveillance dronesOp bestelling 4 2028 Contract announced 22 July 2025 through NSPA; the ministry did not name the type (Wikipedia lists the MQ-9B SkyGuardian).

Meer

To fly from Aalborg with about 70 staff and six electronic warfare specialists at Karup, with possible operations from Kangerlussuaq.
Airbus A330 MRTT (NATO Multinational MRTT Fleet)Op bestelling 2 Denmark joined the MMF in June 2025; the two aircraft are bought through NSPA and will be operated from Karup, which also becomes a forward operating base for other NATO tankers.

Meer

They are pooled, not Danish-owned in the usual sense.
Voorheen in bedrijf

Every type the Royal Danish Air Force has retired

25 types, from the Henri Farman (navy) and B. & S. monoplane (army) to the General Dynamics F-16A/B and F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon. De piekcijfers hebben betrekking op het aantal vliegtuigen dat gedurende de gehele levensduur in gebruik is genomen, niet op de vlootsterkte op een bepaalde datum.

Type Rol Piek Geserveerd Vervangen door Notities
General Dynamics F-16A/B en F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon Multifunctionele gevechtsvliegtuig — 1980–2026 F-35A 70–78 airframes. Wikipedia counts 62 F-16AM and 16 F-16BM in Danish service (78).

Meer

The museum list gives 52 F-16A and 18 F-16B (70) plus a separate row of 18 F-16AM/BM that appears to count upgraded aircraft again, so its rows cannot simply be added.
Westland Lynx Naval helicopter 7 1979–2017 MH-60R Seven, operated by the navy’s helicopter service.
Hughes 500M Light helicopter 15 1971–2005 — 15.
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Tactisch transport 3 1975–2004 C-130J Three.
Gulfstream III VIP transport and surveillance 3 1979–2004 — Three.
Saab 35XD Draken (F-35, RF-35, TF-35) Attack, reconnaissance and trainer — 1970–1993 F-16 51–60. Wikipedia (citing Widfeldt) gives 20 F-35, 20 RF-35 and 11 TF-35, 51 in all. The museum list gives 20 of each, 60, which overstates the two-seaters.
Lockheed F-104G en TF-104G Starfighter Onderschepper — 1964–1986 F-16 At least 29: the museum list gives 25 F-104G and 4 TF-104G. Later additions, if any, were not checked.
North American F-100D/F en TF-100F Super Sabre Jachtbommenwerper — 1959–1982 F-16 38–72. The museum list gives 31 F-100D and 7 F-100F (38).

Meer

Wikipedia gives 48 F-100D and 10 F-100F delivered under MDAP from 1959 to 1961 plus 14 ex-USAF TF-100F bought in 1974 (72); the museum’s rows may count only the aircraft of one period.
Douglas C-47A Dakota Vervoer 8 1953–1982 — Eight.
de Havilland Canada Chipmunk T.20 Hoofdtrainer 27 1950–1978 — 27.
Republic RF-84F Thunderflash Verkenning 23 1957–1977 — 23 per the museum list.
Lockheed T-33A Straaltrainer 20 1953–1977 — 20 per the museum list.
Douglas C-54D/G Skymaster Vervoer 6 1959–1977 — Six.
Hawker Hunter F.51 en T.53 Dagvechter 34 1956–1974 — 30 F.51 and 4 two-seaters (two T.53 in 1958 and two bought from the Netherlands in 1967). Both sources agree.
Geconsolideerde PBY-5A en PBY-6A Catalina Maritieme patrouille en zoek- en reddingsoperaties 16 1947–1968 — Eight PBY-5A and eight PBY-6A.
Sikorsky S-55C Rescue helicopter 7 1957–1966 S-61A Seven.
North American F-86D Sabre Onderscheppingsvoertuig voor alle weersomstandigheden 59 1958–1964 — 59 per the museum list.
Gloster Meteor F.4, T.7, F.8, NF.11 en TT.20 Fighter, night fighter and target tug 75 1950–1962 — 20 F.4, 9 T.7, 20 F.8, 20 NF.11 and 6 TT.20 per the museum list.
Republic F-84G Thunderjet Jachtbommenwerper 238 1952–1961 F-100D 238 per Lex and the museum list; Danish Defence says over 200. Six F-84Es (1951–1954) came first.
Noord-Amerikaanse Harvard Gevorderde trainer 39 1946–1959 — 39.
Supermarine Spitfire HF IXe en PR XI Jachtvliegtuig en verkenningsvliegtuig 46 1947–1955 — 38 HF IXe and 8 PR XI.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Vervoer 1 1948–1955 — One.
Airspeed Oxford Multi-engine trainer 44 1946–1955 — 44.
Henri Farman (navy) and B. & S. monoplane (army) First military aircraft 2 1912–1913 — One of each, both gifts.
Sikorsky S-61A Sea King Zoek- en reddingshelikopter 9 1965– Merlin Nine.
Luchtbases

Where the Royal Danish Air Force flies from

Zwarte pinnen geven actieve bases aan, holle pinnen de vliegvelden die gesloten zijn. Three air stations do the flying: Skrydstrup for fighters, Aalborg for transport and Karup for helicopters and training. Kangerlussuaq and Pituffik in Greenland are not Danish air bases and are not listed. Entries with no published aerodrome data carry no pin.

Actieve luchtmachtbasis Gesloten of reserverenKlik op een speld om de basispagina te openen.
Baseren ICAO Status Startbaan Eenheden en vliegtuigen
AalborgRegio Noord-Denemarken (regio Noord-Jutland) EKYT Actief 08L/26R2,650 mconcrete and asphalt composite08R/26L2,551 m
  • Eskadrille 721 (Transport Squadron 721): C-130J-30 Hercules (4), CL-604 Challenger (4)
  • Eskadrille 722 search and rescue detachment: AW101 (EH101) Merlin
  • Special Operations Command (Specialoperationskommandoen)
  • Eskadrille 723: F-86D Sabre, F-104G Starfighter, F-16A/B Fighting Falcon
  • Eskadrille 726: F-86D Sabre, F-104G Starfighter, F-16A/B Fighting Falcon
KarupRegio Midden-Denemarken (regio Midtjylland) EKKA Actief 09R/27L2,929 masphalt and concrete composite09L/27R2.992 masphalt and concrete composite03/21880 masphalt and concrete composite14/32693 masphalt and concrete composite
  • Eskadrille 722: AW101 (EH101) Merlin
  • Eskadrille 723: MH-60R Seahawk (9)
  • Eskadrille 724: AS550 Fennec
  • Flyveskolen (Royal Danish Air Force Flying School): Saab T-17 Supporter
  • Air Control Wing
  • Eskadrille 725 and 729 (Saab 35 Draken): Saab 35 Draken
Roskilde Airportsearch and rescue detachmentRegion Zealand (Region Sjælland) EKRK Actief 11/291,799 m03/211500 m
  • Eskadrille 722 search and rescue detachment: AW101 (EH101) Merlin
SkrydstrupRegio Zuid-Denemarken (Regio Syddanmark) EKSP Actief —
VærløseHoofdstedelijk Gewest van Denemarken (Regio Hovedstaden) Gesloten in 2004. —
  • Eskadrille 721 (transport squadron): C-130H Hercules
  • Eskadrille 722 (rescue squadron): Sikorsky S-55C, Sikorsky S-61A
  • Army Air Corps (Hærens Flyvertropper) units: Mixed army aircraft
VandelRegio Zuid-Denemarken (Regio Syddanmark) Gesloten in 2003. —
  • Artilleriflyvebatteri Vandel: Light observation aircraft (types UNVERIFIED)
  • Hærens Flyvetjeneste (Army Flying Service): AS550 Fennec
TirstrupRegio Midden-Denemarken (regio Midtjylland) EKAH Gesloten in 1998. 10L/28R2,781 masfalt en beton10R/28L2,704 masfalt en beton —
Avnø Air StationRegion Zealand (Region Sjælland) Gesloten in 1993. —
  • Naval Air Service flying school (Marinens Flyvevæsen): Naval training aircraft (types UNVERIFIED)
  • Army Air Corps flying school (Hærens Flyvertropper): Army training aircraft (types UNVERIFIED)
  • Flyveskolen (Royal Danish Air Force Flying School): Saab T-17 Supporter
KløvermarkenHoofdstedelijk Gewest van Denemarken (Regio Hovedstaden) Closed 1928 —
  • Danish military aviation (army and navy flyers): Early army and navy aircraft (types UNVERIFIED)

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Slagorde

Who is stationed where in the Royal Danish Air Force

Vliegende eenheden per basis, met de huidige eenheden eerst. Danish squadrons are eskadriller numbered in the 700s; Eskadrille 727, formed in 1952, is the air force’s oldest fighter squadron and now flies the F-35. Where a squadron number rests on secondary sources only, the entry says so.

Luchtmachtbasis Skrydstrup · EKSPFighter Wing Skrydstrup, Royal Danish Air Force
Eskadrille 727 (Fighter Squadron 727)Jachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
F-35A Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon (to January 2026)
Eskadrille 722 search and rescue detachmentSearch and rescue helicopter detachment · active
AW101 (EH101) Merlin
Eskadrille 730 (Fighter Squadron 730)—
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Luchtmachtbasis Aalborg · EKYTAir Transport Wing Aalborg, Royal Danish Air Force
Eskadrille 721 (Transport Squadron 721)Air transport and surveillance squadron · active
C-130J-30 Hercules (4), CL-604 Challenger (4)
Eskadrille 722 search and rescue detachmentSearch and rescue helicopter detachment · active
AW101 (EH101) Merlin
Special Operations Command (Specialoperationskommandoen)Joint special operations command · active
—
Eskadrille 7231952–2001
F-86D Sabre, F-104G Starfighter, F-16A/B Fighting Falcon
Eskadrille 7261958–2006
F-86D Sabre, F-104G Starfighter, F-16A/B Fighting Falcon
Karup luchtmachtbasis · EKKAHelicopter Wing Karup; also Air Control Wing, Royal Danish Air Force
Eskadrille 722Search and rescue and tactical transport helicopter squadron · active
AW101 (EH101) Merlin
Eskadrille 723Ship-based maritime helicopter squadron · active
MH-60R Seahawk (9)
Eskadrille 724Light utility and surveillance helicopter squadron · active
AS550 Fennec
Flyveskolen (Royal Danish Air Force Flying School)Elementary flying school · active
Saab T-17 Supporter
Air Control WingAir surveillance and control wing · active
—
Eskadrille 725 and 729 (Saab 35 Draken)1970–1993
Saab 35 Draken
Roskilde Airport (search and rescue detachment) · EKRKDetachment of Eskadrille 722, Helicopter Wing Karup; the airport is operated by Københavns Lufthavne A/S
Eskadrille 722 search and rescue detachmentSearch and rescue helicopter detachment · active
AW101 (EH101) Merlin

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Tijdlijn

Royal Danish Air Force milestones, 1914 to today

1912

25 March: the navy receives its first aircraft, a Henri Farman given by Valdemar Ludvigsen. 2 July: the army receives a B. & S. monoplane from Captain Torben Grut.

1913

1 February: the Naval Air Service (Marinens Flyvevæsen) is formally created, according to Lex. 2 October: the naval aviator Ulrik Birch is killed at Kløvermarken, the first air accident on Danish soil.

1923

The army’s flyers become the Flyverkorps; on 1 November 1932 they are renamed Hærens Flyvertropper, and in 1934 they move to Værløse.

1926

16 March: two military aircraft leave Kløvermarken for Tokyo; A. P. Botved reaches it.

1940

9 April: German fighters attack Værløse — 11 aircraft destroyed and 14 badly damaged of 45 on the field — and paratroops seize Aalborg airfield. Denmark capitulates at 06:00; military flying is banned.

1943

November: after the fleet is scuttled in August, the navy’s remaining aircraft are destroyed to keep them from the Germans.

1950

20 January: three Gloster Meteors bring the first jets. 1 October: the army and navy air services merge into the Royal Danish Air Force.

1952

The F-84G Thunderjet arrives under US aid, 238 in all; Eskadrille 727 is formed on 1 November.

1956

31 January: the first two Hawker Hunter F.51s arrive for Eskadrille 724.

1959

The F-100 Super Sabre enters service as the strike fighter, supplied under US aid.

1964

The F-104G Starfighter joins Eskadrille 723 and 726; it serves until 1986.

1970

The Saab Draken, chosen in 1968, enters service at Karup with Eskadrille 725 and 729.

1974

30 April: last Hunter flight. From 1974 to 1977 Denmark builds 84 hardened aircraft shelters.

1980

The first Danish F-16 lands at Skrydstrup, flown by Christian Hvidt; the last F-100s go in 1982.

1993

The Drakens are withdrawn and Karup loses its fighters; the flying school moves from Avnø to Karup.

1996

3 August: a Danish military aircraft crashes on approach to Vágar in the Faroe Islands, killing nine, among them the new Chief of Defence, Hans Jørgen Garde.

1999

21 January: four F-16s deploy to Grazzanise. 30 May: Maj. Max Vilhelmsen drops the air force’s first bombs in combat, over Serbia.

2002

Danish F-16s begin operations over Afghanistan from Manas, Kyrgyzstan, with Dutch and Norwegian jets; 743 missions by October 2003.

2004

1 July: first Baltic Air Policing rotation from Šiauliai. 28 March: Værløse closes. In 2006 all fighters are gathered at Skrydstrup.

2011

20 March: six F-16s at Sigonella fly the first Danish mission over Libya; by 31 October they have flown 600 missions and dropped 923 precision-guided munitions.

2016

9 June: Parliament chooses the F-35A to replace the F-16. F-16s had flown against Islamic State in Iraq from 2014.

2023

September: the first F-35s reach Skrydstrup; handover on 1 October.

2025

26 March: the Air Defence Wing is formed. 1 April: the F-35 takes over quick reaction alert. 10 October: 16 more F-35s agreed, 43 in all. 6 December: the first six F-16s handed to Argentina. December: NASAMS operational.

2026

18 January: last F-16 flight. February: F-35s join NATO’s Arctic Sentry. 3 June: Jeppe Bruus becomes defence minister. 7 July: two P-8A Poseidons announced.

Gevechtsgeschiedenis

Every war the Royal Danish Air Force has fought

Uitvallen en verliezen waar de gegevens die vermelden, en een eerlijke blanco waar die ontbreken.

7conflicten
1940Eerst
0Vliegtuig verloren
0Gedood
  • The German invasion of Denmark 1940 Did not resist in the air; the army air corps was caught on the ground at Værløse
  • Operatie Allied Force 1999 Flew air defence patrols to protect NATO aircraft and ships and, from 30 May 1999, strike missions against military targets
  • Operatie Enduring Freedom 2002–2003 Flew armed patrols and close air support against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in a joint F-16 detachment with the Netherlands and Norway; Hercules transports supported the coalition to October 2002
  • ISAF air support in Afghanistan 2005–2015 Flew transport, helicopter and air traffic control support for the NATO-led mission; no Danish fighter aircraft took part
  • Operatie Odyssey Dawn en Operatie Unified Protector 2011 Enforced UN Security Council Resolution 1973 and struck military targets of the Gaddafi regime

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Royal Danish Air Force news from Afterburner

Everything MiGFlug’s magazine has published on the Royal Danish Air Force and the aircraft it flies. Deze lijst wordt automatisch vernieuwd — nieuwe Afterburner-verhalen verschijnen hier automatisch.

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Vragen en antwoorden

Everything people ask about the Royal Danish Air Force

What is the Royal Danish Air Force called in Danish?
Flyvevåbnet, literally "the flying arm"; that is the name Danish Defence uses on forsvaret.dk. It is run by Air Command (Flyverkommandoen) at Karup. Before 1950 Denmark had two separate air services, the army’s Hærens Flyvertropper and the navy’s Marinens Flyvevæsen, which were merged to form it.
What aircraft does the Royal Danish Air Force fly in 2026?
Its only fighter is the F-35A Lightning II, of which 43 have been bought; 21 had been delivered by October 2025. It also flies four C-130J-30 Hercules and four CL-604 Challengers from Aalborg, and 14 AW101 Merlin, nine MH-60R Seahawk and about 11 Fennec helicopters from Karup. Pilots start on the T-17 Supporter. The F-16 was retired on 18 January 2026.
How many F-35s does Denmark have?
Denmark has bought 43 F-35As: 27 agreed in 2016 and 16 more on 10 October 2025 for 29.0 billion kroner. When the extra buy was agreed, 15 were in Denmark and six at the training base in the United States. The last of the first 27 was due in 2026, and full operational capability is planned for 2027.
When did the first Danish F-35s arrive?
In September 2023. Danish Defence says the first F-35 with a Danish pilot landed at Skrydstrup on 14 September 2023; four aircraft were formally handed over on 1 October 2023 in front of about 8,000 guests, including the then Crown Prince Frederik.
Has Denmark retired the F-16?
Yes. Danish F-16s made their last flight on 18 January 2026, 46 years after the first landed at Skrydstrup in 1980. The F-35 had already taken over quick reaction alert on 1 April 2025.
How many F-16s did Denmark give to Ukraine?
Denmark pledged 19 F-16s to Ukraine in August 2023, with deliveries phased from 2024, and trained Ukrainian pilots and technicians. Danish Defence confirms that some aircraft were donated but its farewell article gives no final delivered total, so none is given here.
Did Denmark sell its F-16s to Argentina?
Yes, 24 of them, freed by the arrival of the F-35. After a letter of intent signed on 26 March 2024, Denmark sold 24 upgraded F-16A/B MLU aircraft; the defence minister handed over the first six on 6 December 2025, and the rest follow six a year until 2028.
When was the Royal Danish Air Force founded?
On 1 October 1950, when the army and navy air services were merged into an independent service. Danish military flying is older: the navy received its first aircraft on 25 March 1912 and the army on 2 July 1912.
What happened to the Danish air force on 9 April 1940?
German fighters attacked Værløse, the army air corps’ base, on the morning of the invasion. Of 45 aircraft on the field, 11 were destroyed and 14 badly damaged according to the Nature Agency’s history (Lex says all were destroyed), and the one aircraft that got airborne was shot down with its crew. Denmark capitulated at 06:00, and military flying was banned for the rest of the occupation.
Did Denmark fight in the air in 1940?
No. The government chose not to resist, and the invasion was over within hours. The only Danish aircraft that took off at Værløse was shot down immediately. Sixteen Danes were killed across the country that day, 13 soldiers and three border gendarmes.
Where is the Royal Danish Air Force based?
At three air stations: Skrydstrup (all fighters, now the F-35), Aalborg (transport aircraft) and Karup (Air Command, helicopters and the flying school). The new ground-based air defence is at Skalstrup on Zealand, and search and rescue helicopters also stand watch at Roskilde. Værløse, the old base north of Copenhagen, closed on 28 March 2004.
Who commands the Royal Danish Air Force?
Major General Jan Dam, Chief of Air Command since he was installed at Karup on 17 May 2021. The Chief of Defence is General Michael Hyldgaard and the Minister of Defence is Jeppe Bruus, who took over from Troels Lund Poulsen on 3 June 2026.
Did Danish F-16s bomb Serbia in 1999?
Yes, late in the campaign. Danish F-16s at Grazzanise flew about 600 sorties in Operation Allied Force, mostly air defence patrols. On 30 May 1999 Major Max Vilhelmsen dropped six Mk 82 bombs on a communications centre, the air force’s first bombs in combat; Danish Defence counts 24 bombs in all.
How many bombs did Denmark drop in Libya?
923 precision-guided munitions in about 600 missions, flown by six F-16s from Sigonella between 20 March and 31 October 2011. Wikipedia credits the Danes with about 17 per cent of all targets struck, a share not confirmed on an official Danish page.
Did Denmark fly combat missions in Afghanistan?
Yes. From Manas in Kyrgyzstan, in a joint detachment with the Netherlands and Norway, Danish F-16s flew 743 missions over Afghanistan in 2002 and 2003, about 4,350 hours, including bombing attacks on Taliban and al-Qaeda positions. Later the air force supported ISAF with Hercules, Fennec and Merlin helicopters and radars until 2015.
Did Denmark bomb Islamic State?
Yes. Danish Defence records that F-16s fought ISIL in Iraq from 2014 to 2016, and its F-16 farewell also lists Syria. Wikipedia places seven F-16s at Ahmad al-Jaber in Kuwait; official mission and bomb totals were not found and are not given here.
Which Cold War jets did Denmark fly?
Mostly American aid aircraft: 238 F-84G Thunderjets, F-86D Sabres, F-100 Super Sabres En F-104G Starfighters, plus British Meteors and 30 Straatverkoper Jager F.51s bought with Danish money, and Swedish Saab Drakens from 1970 to 1993.
Why did Denmark buy the Saab Draken?
In 1968 it chose the Swedish Draken over the Mirage III and the Northrop F-5 for attack and reconnaissance. Wikipedia counts 51 aircraft (20 attack, 20 reconnaissance, 11 two-seat trainers); the Danmarks Flymuseum list gives 60. They flew with Eskadrille 725 and 729 at Karup until 1993.
How many F-100 Super Sabres did Denmark have?
Between 38 and 72, depending on the source. The Danmarks Flymuseum list gives 31 F-100D and 7 F-100F; Wikipedia gives 48 F-100D and 10 F-100F from 1959 to 1961 plus 14 TF-100F bought in 1974. The F-100 flew until 1982.
Does Denmark have an air force base in Greenland?
No permanent Danish air base. One CL-604 Challenger is stationed with Air Group West at Kangerlussuaq, and Hercules from Aalborg deploy about ten days a month. Pituffik Space Base (Thule until 6 April 2023) is operated by the United States under the 1951 defence agreement, with a Danish liaison officer.
What is Denmark buying for the Arctic?
Two Arctic agreements, of about 14.6 billion kroner in January 2025 and 27.4 billion in October 2025, pay for four long-range surveillance drones to fly from Aalborg from 2028, two P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft announced on 7 July 2026, an air surveillance radar in East Greenland, new Arctic ships and a new Arctic Command headquarters in Nuuk.
Does Denmark have ground-based air defence again?
Yes. Denmark scrapped its HAWK missiles in 2005, then formed an Air Defence Wing on 26 March 2025; its first NASAMS was operational at Skalstrup by December 2025. On 4 November 2025 the defence parties chose SAMP/T for long range and NASAMS, IRIS-T and VL MICA for medium range, eight systems in all.
Is Denmark getting tanker aircraft?
Yes, through NATO. Denmark joined the Multinational MRTT Fleet in June 2025, and two Airbus A330 MRTT tankers bought through NSPA are to be based at Karup, which will also serve other NATO tankers.
How much does Denmark spend on defence?
The defence appropriation rose from 37.4 billion kroner in 2024 to 68.5 billion in 2025, an increase of more than 80 per cent. The government’s economic plan of 24 February 2026 aims at 3.5 per cent of GDP from 2026.
How much did the extra F-35s cost?
The 16 F-35As agreed on 10 October 2025 cost 29.0 billion kroner, including spare parts, weapons, simulators, infrastructure and staff. The price of the original 27 and the programme’s later cost growth were not checked for this page.
What was the 1996 Vágar air crash?
On 3 August 1996 a Danish military aircraft crashed on approach to Vágar airport in the Faroe Islands, killing all nine on board, five passengers and four crew. Among them was the newly appointed Chief of Defence, Hans Jørgen Garde, and his wife.
Did the Danish air force publish UFO files?
Yes. In 2009 the air force released the folder of UFO enquiries its operations centre had collected and investigated over many years, as four PDF files on Danish Defence’s website.

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Figures verified 2026-09-28. Order of Battle pages are regenerated from a single dataset; if a number here disagrees with a Book of Beasts page, this page is the more recent of the two.

Photographs: Photo: Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: Aeroprints.com / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: André Gerwing / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Alan Wilson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: Arne Müseler / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 de) · Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Robert M. Trujillo / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: MSGT Patrick H. Nugent / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Colin Cooke Photo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: clipperarctic / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: Alf van Beem / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) · Photo: Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: Pejft / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: unknown / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: Colin Cooke Photo / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: user:Pajx / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Pedro Aragão / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: Royal Netherlands Air Force / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) · Photo: Michael Gaylard from Horsham, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)