How the Royal Danish Air Force evolved from a post-war void to Arctic power

Health · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed in 1950 from the ashes of Nazi-occupied Denmark, the Royal Danish Air Force initially lacked aircraft entirely. Through decades of rapid expansion, international partnerships, and strategic pivots—including the recent transition to F-35A fighters—it has transformed into a modern expeditionary force capable of defending both domestic and Arctic airspace.

The Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) was established on 1 January 1950, merging the Army Air Corps and the Naval Air Service. This creation followed the Nazi occupation from 1940 to 1945, a period that prohibited military aviation and left Denmark without aircraft by V-E Day. Early operations were marked by internal friction between the first Chief of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Carl Christian Jacob Førslev, and fighter ace Kaj Birksted, whose differing backgrounds delayed the service's initial operational readiness.

Expansion in the 1950s was rapid but costly. The influx of American-supplied F-84 Thunderjets, combined with a lack of flight simulators and two-seater trainers, resulted in 89 crashes and 40 pilot casualties. To stabilize the force, the government employed Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Hugh Saunders in 1954 to reorganize command structures. By the 1960s and 1970s, the RDAF diversified its fleet, incorporating Saab 35 Drakens and Lockheed F-104G Starfighters, while assuming control of the Army's Nike missile batteries to bolster Copenhagen's defense.

Following the Cold War, the RDAF shifted toward an expeditionary model, supporting international missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan. This evolution culminated in the 2016 decision to purchase 27 F-35A fighters, a fleet later expanded to 43 units in 2025. By 18 January 2026, the service officially retired its F-16 fleet, completing a transition that emphasizes sovereignty over the Arctic. Today, the force integrates advanced transport capabilities and plans for future collaborative drone operations, ensuring its role as a critical component of NATO's northern defense.

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