Years before signing with Argentina, the Royal Danish Air Force had different expectations F-16 fighter jetsthat I had started using in the 80s. In 2016, Denmark agreed to the decision to upgrade with a fleet of more advanced aircraft, the fifth-generation F-35. So the plan was to sell the F-16. Although these fourth-generation aircraft had years of service life, the Danes believed in them It wouldn’t be easy to find interested parties. and they estimated that they could only sell part of it. The timing, geopolitics and influence of the United States agreeing to the sale determined the negotiations, which are generally viewed positively in Denmark.
“Without Milei’s rise (to power), I don’t think we would have been able to sell the F-16 to Argentina,” he said THE NATION Alex Ahrendtsen, Parliamentarian and opposition MP Danish People’s Party. Ahrendtsen, defense spokesman at the FolketingThe Danish Parliament considered that the geopolitical orientation was weighing on the negotiations. “As the Peronists -mentions the term in Spanish- were in power, they tried to make deals with China and become part of the BRICS alliance. I know the United States was worried“said Ahrendtsen in a video call.
Another point of discussion is the United States’ intention for Argentina to give up the Chinese JF-17 aircraft, the other offer that the Alberto Fernández government had considered. Hans Peter Michaelsen, independent analyst The military affairs professional and former member of the Royal Danish Air Force believes that Washington’s “desire” to “avoid greater influence in China” penetrated Copenhagen as part of the alliance plan within the Danish Air Force NATOthe military organization that also integrates Denmark.
“It is known that the Milei government is closely linked to the new American government. So in a sense it all made sense. And of course we are close allies of them, specifically the United States,” Ahrendtsen explained.
In 2023, the Danish government – an alliance between the Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party and the Moderates – has brought forward the start process for parliament Replacing the F-16 with the F-35which was previously planned for 2027. Denmark had approved the purchase of 27 F-35 aircraft in 2016 and recently added another 16 in 2025. For the specialist Niels Byrjalsenwho works there as a postdoctoral researcher Center for Military Studies des University of CopenhagenTiming was a crucial factor.
“The timing was also right, as Denmark has started integrating the F-35 aircraft and needs to shift its focus and manpower (including pilots, technicians and engineers) to this platform. The Royal Danish Air Force would of course have less and less capacity to operate and manage the F-16,” Byrjalsen analyzed by email when asked by THE NATION.
Denmark had originally considered achieving this by replacing a dozen F-16s 62 million dollars (400 million Danish kroner), according to Danish broadcaster TV2. A major sale, like the one that took place after years of negotiations and discussions with other interested parties, was considered unlikely at the time. Argentina promised to pay in installments $300 million for the 24 aircraft and other $350 million for the weapons systemprovided by the United States, a much larger package than originally anticipated.
“It was a perfect situation for Denmark, the United States and Argentina at the same time,” he said in a phone call THE NATION, Different Lomholtexperienced journalist in the defense of TV2. “Denmark found a buyer for these fighter jets, which allowed us to sell our remaining fleet in one transaction. And that was very cheap, rather than selling five here, five there and so on. We found this buyer that the United States wanted to promote for strategic reasons,” he added.
According to information from Lockheed Martinthe North American company behind the F-16, there is more than 3000 aircraft of this type are currently operating in 29 countries. “There is relatively strong support for the F-16 because it has long been viewed as a reliable platform that can be effectively upgraded to modernize as technology advances,” Byrjalsen said.
In the same spirit, Michaelsen added that several of these aircraft were modernized in the 90s and early 2000s, that is, halfway through their useful life. “They are still calm modern and competent. The good news about the F-16 is that due to its widespread use, there are a variety of certified weapons available. So there is a lot of flexibility in terms of the weapons and missiles that are deployed on them,” he explained.
THE NATION contacted him Danish Ministry of Defense and with that Danish Defense Procurement Logistics Agency (DALO)the government department responsible for the sales process to get to know the Danish perspective of the operation. However, they excused themselves from giving an interview or answering questions in writing because they dealt with topics “related to Argentine affairs.”
Ukraine
“The military sector is not an area where savings need to be madesaid the Danish newspaper The information in May 2024 in an article reporting on street protests and social problems amid the government’s celebrated budget surplus. It was a month after the signing of the purchase of the 24 jets at the Skrydstrup base between the now former Defense Minister, Luis Petri and his Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen.
In general, the sale of the aircraft to Argentina did not attract much media attention in Denmark. However, the operation raised questions that reached Christiansborg Palace, (BorrowCastle in Danish), the seat of political power in Denmark.
Why didn’t these F-16s go to Ukraine? The defense minister faced this question shortly after the agreement with Argentina was concluded. The Danish government had already donated 19 aircraft to Volodymyr Zelensky’s government as part of its commitment to support Kiev after the Russian invasion, and some questioned why they should not send the remaining 24 to Buenos Aires. Poulsen then explained that Denmark had already made a significant contribution by sending these 19 aircraft.
However, this disagreement was quickly resolved. “The problem I see is that if we had done that and not sold to Argentina, we would also have been responsible for more support (to Ukraine), and that would be very, very difficult at a time of transition to our new aircraft,” Hans Peter Michaelsen reasoned.
The connection between Argentina and Denmark remains close. Not just because of the arrival of the planes, which will arrive in batches over the next few years. The Danish company Terma It is responsible for preparing aircraft for deployment by fundamentally improving “electronic warfare systems”.