Danish F‑35s intercept Russian aircraft, marking new era in Baltic security

• First F-35 mission: Danish F-35 fighters were deployed to track a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft over the Baltic Sea. This marks the first instance of these modern aircraft participating in such a mission.
• Regional security: Denmark's Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, underscored the significance of this operation in reaffirming Denmark's sovereignty and boosting NATO's defensive capabilities in the region.

The Danish Armed Forces reported that F-35 fighters were scrambled to monitor the Russian reconnaissance aircraft Il-20 operating over the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred in international airspace near the island of Bornholm.

Denmark's Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, stated that reaffirming Denmark's sovereignty is crucial, particularly when Russian aircraft approach its airspace. Lund Poulsen underlined that the situation in the Baltic Sea remains tense due to Russia's attack on Ukraine, and that Denmark, together with its Nordic neighbours as well as Poland and Germany, bears a special responsibility for the security of the region.

The decision to acquire 27 F-35 fighters was made by the Danish authorities back in 2016, although delivery of the aircraft was delayed. The first of these planes arrived in Denmark in the autumn of 2023, with subsequent infrastructure adjustments and personnel training ongoing to accommodate the new model.

At Skrydstrup base, 21 F-35 aircraft are to be stationed, while six will remain in the US for training Danish pilots. Simultaneously, the retiring F-16s are being prepared for transfer to Ukraine, where Ukrainian pilots and ground crew are receiving training.

Denmark's Minister of Defence stated that the acquisition of the F-35 has strengthened both the combat capabilities of the Danish military and NATO's deterrence and defence posture in the region.