Denmark will buy 27 F-35As

The Danish parliament has approved its government's recommendation to purchase 27 F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing aircraft, which makes the country the seventh partner nation to buy the Joint Strike Fighter.

Denmark concluded the JSF will replace F-16 combat aircraft as an investment to protect the country in the future, according to a June 9 Lockheed Martin statement in which the company provided an English translation of the Danish government's announcement.

"The acquisition continues Denmark's current operational capabilities in fighter aircraft and ensure[s] that Denmark continues to have freedom of action and ability to assert Danish sovereignty, the ability to be deployed in international operations in line with the commitments in relation to NATO's demands and ultimately contribute to NATO's collective defense of Danish and allied territory," according to the Danish government.

Denmark considered replacing the F-16 with the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing's F/A-18F Super Hornet or Lockheed's F-35A.