Gripen re-enters Denmark’s fighter debate

Denmark should cancel its planned procurement of additional F-35 fighter aircraft and instead acquire Saab’s Gripen, according to the Danish Social Liberal Party.

Danish broadcaster TV2 reports that the party’s defence spokesperson, Stinus Lindgren, has called for Denmark to withdraw from the procurement.

He links the proposal to recent developments with US President Donald Trump and his administration threating to take over Greenland, combined with tariffs and a perceived lack of American support for Ukraine.

- I have looked into the matter with the Ministry of Defence. We can, in fact, withdraw from the F-35 agreement, and now is the time to do so. If we proceed with additional F-35 acquisitions, we will effectively close the door to alternative options, Lindgren said.

For now, the Social Liberals appear to stand alone in this position. However, the debate could intensify depending on developments in the US administration and ongoing negotiations between Copenhagen and Washington.

Peter Viggo Jakobsen of the Royal Danish Defence College told TV2 that a Nordic solution could make strategic sense, even if the Gripen is not as advanced as the F-35.

Saab offered the Gripen to Denmark in the mid-2000s, presenting it as a Nordic alternative. At the time, however, the Danish establishment prioritised close defence ties with the United States.

The Gripen bid attracted support within large parts of Danish industry.

The Social Liberals are signatories to Denmark’s multi-party defence agreement. In October, parties agreed to procure 16 additional F-35 aircraft for DKK 29 billion, equivalent to approximately 3.8 billion euro.

According to TV2, "several parties" expressed interest at the time in examining the possibility of acquiring the Gripen.

The government rejects the possibility to withdraw from the proccurement.