Royal Danish Air Force officially retires F-16 Fighting Falcon after 46 years

The Royal Danish Air Force has formally ended the operational service of its F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters, aircraft that were central to Denmark’s air power for 46 years. Their retirement was marked by a ceremony at Skrydstrup Air Base, bringing to a close a period that began in 1980 and permanently transferring responsibilities to the F-35.

From the time they entered service, the F-16s were consistently involved in Danish Armed Forces missions at home and abroad. Across more than four decades, the aircraft were deployed in a range of operational theatres, including the Balkans, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Libya, carrying out surveillance, deterrence and air-response duties.

Farewell ceremony at Skrydstrup

The formal retirement event was held on 18 January at Skrydstrup Air Station, bringing together generations of military personnel, technicians and pilots connected with the F-16 weapons system. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen led the event, which centred on an F-16 previously used in operational service displayed alongside a model of an F-35 fighter.

Hangar 3 at the base served as the main venue for the ceremony, attended by members of 727 Squadron from Skrydstrup Fighter Wing, a unit closely associated with the history of the Fighting Falcon in Denmark. Visitors were able to access the displayed aircraft and speak with personnel who had operated and maintained the F-16s over the years.

Among the speakers was General and former Chief of Defence Christian Hvidt (VIT), who landed the first Danish F-16 at Skrydstrup exactly 46 years ago before later serving as commander of 727 Squadron. In his address, he looked back on the programme’s beginnings and the aircraft’s operational record within the Air Force.

“We do not talk about the age of the F-16, because it has been maintained by probably the best aircraft technicians in the world and is flown by some of the best pilots in the world,” Hvidt said. “Congratulations to 727. What exciting and enormous challenges lie ahead!” he concluded.

Transition to the F-35

The F-16’s withdrawal coincides with progress in the programme to introduce stealthy F-35 fighters, which have already taken on duties and roles formerly carried out by the Fighting Falcon. Denmark is also continuing the purchase of an additional batch of F-35s from the United States, strengthening the shift to the new weapons system.

Although the F-16s have left active service with the Royal Danish Air Force, the aircraft will not be permanently withdrawn. Owing to their operational condition, maintained through decades of technical support and upkeep, part of the fleet has been transferred to other countries.

A new chapter in Argentina and Ukraine

Some Danish F-16s have been sold to Argentina, while others have been donated to Ukraine, where they are already fitted with APKWS II guided rockets, ensuring that the type remains operational with new air forces. In Argentina’s case, the aircraft are part of the Peace Condor Programme, through which the Argentine Air Force (FAA) is progressing with the introduction and preparation of F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon aircraft.

In this context, the FAA has recently launched a new tender intended to strengthen the system’s operational sustainment. Through the Office of the Aeronautical Attaché at the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in the United States, Tender No. 40/03-012-LPU25 was issued for the procurement of main and nose landing-gear tyres. These are critical components for the future operations of the fighters assigned to the 6th Fighter Group, temporarily based at the Río Cuarto Materiel Area (ARMACUAR).

Furthermore, on 9 January, the Argentine Air Force received a logistics shipment at ARMACUAR comprising 50 containers of tools, spare parts, components and weapons intended to sustain F-16 system operations. The material strengthens the programme’s logistical support structure and represents a key step in establishing the aircraft’s operational capability.

This delivery follows the first logistics package accepted in September 2025 in Kolding, Denmark, where an Argentine technical delegation carried out physical and documentary verification of the materiel under the ILIAS management system, used by the Royal Danish Air Force and adopted by Argentina.

With the F-16’s official retirement in Denmark, a historic era for the Scandinavian country’s military aviation has ended. The aircraft, however, will continue their operational lives in new air forces, extending the legacy of one of the most widely used fighters of recent decades.

Cover and ceremony images obtained from the Danish Armed Forces.