Danish F-35s lead first contribution to NATO’s new Arctic Sentry initiative

Denmark’s F-35 fighter jets have become the country’s first operational contribution to NATO’s newly launched Arctic Sentry activity, which began on Friday, February 13, bringing together a number of previously approved Arctic initiatives, including Arctic Shield, Arctic Summer and Arctic Endurance.

The Danish aircraft are deployed under national command and are scheduled to carry out joint training missions with Swedish Gripen fighter jets as part of the activity, as per foreign media reports.

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen welcomed the launch, noting that the initiative followed, among other factors, a request from Denmark.

“I am very pleased that NATO, following, among other things, a Danish request, has launched Arctic Sentry. The first Danish contribution to the activity shows that we are ready to deliver concrete and operational capabilities to NATO in the Arctic. Our F-35 contribution strengthens the overall presence in the region and underlines Denmark’s role as an active ally in the Arctic and the North Atlantic,” he said.

Poulsen explained that Arctic Sentry is intended to demonstrate NATO’s active presence and surveillance across the northern part of the Alliance’s area of responsibility. Allies have been asked to identify capabilities, exercises and operational activities that can be incorporated into the framework, as well as Arctic infrastructure capable of supporting missions.

Vivian Motzfeldt, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research of Greenland, said the initiative builds on decisions already adopted jointly by the Danish government and Naalakkersuisut with the close involvement of the Danish Chief of Defence.

“Arctic Sentry builds on initiatives already decided by the Government and Naalakkersuisut with close involvement of the Danish Chief of Defence. Naalakkersuisut supports the strengthened NATO presence in the Arctic and welcomes the F-35 capability. It is a new and strong capability, which we have not seen much of in Greenland, but which will undoubtedly help to strengthen security and surveillance in our region,” she stated.

Chief of Defence Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard emphasised the operational value of allied cooperation, saying joint training improves collective combat readiness and enhances protection of shared areas of responsibility.

“With Arctic Sentry, we strengthen NATO’s deterrence capability in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. The exercise in Iceland, where the Danish and Swedish air forces train together, is a strong example of this,” he said.

Arctic Sentry consolidates a range of already planned regional activities under a single framework designed to support a sustained expansion of NATO’s presence in the Arctic.

Danish contributions incorporated into the initiative include the Danish-led Home Guard exercise Arctic Shield, the Arctic Summer training program involving special operations forces and the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, and Brilliant Ice — a Danish-led logistical operation in Greenland focused on the air delivery of fuel to Station Nord. Danish F-35 aircraft have also recently participated in Operation Noble Defender in the Arctic under the annual US-Canadian NORAD framework.

By Tamilla Hasanova