Earlier this January, Denmark announced that it is evaluating upgrades to Greenland’s airport to facilitate the deployment of its stealth F-35A fighters. Specifically, the focus is on Kangerlussuaq Airport, a former U.S. military base located in western Greenland.
It is worth noting that Copenhagen remains the primary guarantor of Greenland’s security, albeit with limited operational capacity due to the island’s vast size and strategic importance. Current resources include a surveillance Challenger aircraft, a dozen dog sled teams, and a small fleet of four patrol vessels with an extensive service history. Furthermore, the permanent U.S. Army presence at Pituffik Space Base, which hosts one of the main ballistic missile early warning bases, should not be overlooked.
Acknowledging these limitations, and after years of defense budget constraints, the Danish Ministry of Defense has allocated approximately $400 million to enhance Arctic and North Atlantic surveillance capabilities. These efforts include acquiring new long-range drones and patrol ships. In the longer term, over the next decade, the Danish government plans to invest more than $26 billion in defense initiatives, part of which will be allocated to Greenland infrastructure improvements. Danish lawmakers are still debating the finer details of these plans.
Currently, Denmark is in the process of incorporating its F-35 stealth fighter fleet to replace its aging F-16 models. The latest example is the arrival of a batch of four aircraft at the Fighter Wing at Flyvestation Skrydstrup in December. Three additional units are expected soon, joining the eight already in service. Once the process is complete, Copenhagen should have a total of 27 operational units by 2027.
Lastly, it should be noted that since last year, the Danish Air Force has increased operations at civilian airports, including the deployment of F-35 fighters like those intended for Greenland. This is primarily due to the need for more operational locations when challenging weather conditions affect military exercises or, potentially, real combat deployments.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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