Denmark plans to purchase 16 more F-35 stealth fighters from the United States, bringing its total fleet to 43 aircraft, in a 29 billion kroner ($4.5 billion) deal announced Friday. The decision follows recent security tensions after unidentified drones violated Danish airspace near several military sites.
To counter such incursions, the government will also procure new anti-drone systems worth roughly 2.1 billion kroner ($320 million). Lawmakers have suggested that Russia may be behind the recent drone activity.
The acquisition takes place as European governments debate whether to continue relying on the US-built F-35 or shift future orders toward European-made fighter platforms.
Responding to calls for stronger regional security, Denmark will further increase defense spending across the Arctic and North Atlantic — areas Washington has urged Copenhagen to safeguard more robustly given rising strategic interest in the polar region.
