Royal Danish Air Force Completes Transition To All F-35 Combat Force
The Royal Danish Air Force has formally retired its fleet of F-16 fighter jets, marking the end of an era for one of Europe’s longest-running F-16 operations. The final operational flights took place on January 18, 2026, during a retirement ceremony at Skrydstrup Air Base. Denmark introduced the F-16 in 1980 and has since participated in numerous NATO operations, including missions in Afghanistan and Libya. The F-16s have been replaced by the F-35A, with 43 aircraft expected to be fully operational by 2027. This development was first reported by AeroTime.