Denmark to consider purchasing additional batch of F-35 fighter jets

Denmark will consider purchasing an additional batch of F-35 fighter jets.

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has said during a visit to the US that the Danish government plans to discuss in the coming months the possibility of acquiring American F-35 fighter jets in addition to the 27 already ordered, according to Pravda.

"We have not yet made a political decision on this issue, but we will discuss it in the coming months," the Ritzau news agency quoted the politician as saying.

Denmark has already received 10 of the 27 F-35 fighter jets purchased. In November, the Ministry of Defence announced that the delivery of the remaining aircraft could be postponed. Lund Poulsen, who visited Lockheed Martin, does not yet know exactly what the delivery schedule looks like. "This is what we expect to find out about more in the coming months," he said.

According to the Ritzau agency, the delay in the delivery of fighters for Denmark is due to problems with the integration of TR-3 software updates, which are aimed at upgrading the basic processor of the aircraft control system, memory block, panoramic cockpit display system and avionics. According to the Minister of Defence of the kingdom, Lockheed Martin realises the importance of ensuring that the delivery schedule is followed. In this regard, Lund Poulsen recalled that Denmark is in the process of decommissioning F-16 combat aircraft.

"It is important to say that this will not affect our decision to send 19 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine," the minister stressed. "Despite we donated 19 F-16 fighters, we still want more than 20 F-16s left in Denmark."