As part of the increased Danish military presence in Greenland, RDAF F-16s deployed to Kangerlussuaq on the island’s west coast and visited Pituffik Space base.
Two Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-16AMs made a short two-hour visit to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base on Jun. 25, 2025, to meet the U.S. Space Force’s personnel there and get to know their work there. The F-16s, which were accompanied by a CL-604 Challenger, are currently in Greenland as part of Denmark’s “permanent sovereignty enforcement” and the Danish Armed Forces’ increased presence in the area, explained the Defense (Danish Defence Command).
In the roughly 1,200 km journey from Kangerlussuaq to Pituffik Space Base, the two jets were supported by a French Air and Space Force (FASF) A330 MRTT (Multirole Tanker Transport) tanker, as well as the CL-604 Challenger aircraft of the Air Transport Wing. The French tanker, which also supported the F-16s on their journey from Denmark to Greenland, is currently deployed there to support the F-16s throughout the deployment.
The F-16s are assigned to the Skrydstrup Air Force Base, in the south of Jutland, where the older Fighting Falcons are being replaced by F-35As for NATO’s QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) duties. Forsvaret did not mention how many F-16s were deployed to Greenland. Also, it is worth noting that the latest deployment of Danish F-16s to Greenland was in 2014.
The Challenger aircraft is a militarized version of the Bombardier Challenger 600 series of business jets, that the RDAF often uses for maritime patrol and trips to the Arctic, where it is suitable for the frequently rough gravel-covered strips.
Danish F-16 is currently in Greenland, where they are part of the Defense’s regular sovereignty enforcement in the Kingdom and the Armed Forces’ increased presence in Greenland.
The F-16 pilots took the trip from Denmark to Greenland with the support of a French MRTT air tanker aircraft from Armée de l’Air et de… pic.twitter.com/N9TD1u0cq1– Defense (@fordvaretdk) June 25, 2025
Pituffik is the U.S. Department of Defense’s northernmost installation in the Arctic, supporting space-based missions, missile warning systems, and satellite tracking. Located approximately 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, it was originally known as Thule Air Base before Denmark renamed it in 2023, honoring Greenlandic heritage.
Marking sovereignty and presence
Sharing images on X capturing the two F-16s from inside the Challenger aircraft and a cockpit image of one of the pilots, the Forsvaret said: “Danish F-16s are currently in Greenland, where they are part of the Danish Armed Forces’ permanent sovereignty enforcement in the Kingdom and the Danish Armed Forces’ increased presence in Greenland.”
In another statement, Forsvaret also noted “gaining experience with fighter aircraft operations in the Arctic” as another motivation behind the deployment. It is worth noting that the deployment comes amid the U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitions of annexing Greenland, a Danish semi-autonomous region.
The Danish F-16s are currently deployed to Kangerlussuaq, a small airport in the southwest of Greenland. The statement explained that the French tanker supported the ferry flight from Denmark to Kangerlussuaq and it “operates together with the Danish fighter aircraft during the continued deployment.”
The French Joint Staff said in its own post on X that, with the A330 MRTT providing in-flight refueling for the Danish F-16s, is “reaffirming its steadfast commitment to collective security in the region.” The image released showed the two F-16s flying in formation with the A330 during the flight to Pituffik.
🇫🇷France continues its reassurance measures towards 🇩🇰Denmark, with the news about a MRTT tanker refueling Danish F-16s over Greenland published the day after NATO’s annual summit.
This follows an A400M deployment and the visit of the French president in 🇬🇱 earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/Djj3EL1xIO
– Etienne Marcuz (@etienne_marcuz) June 26, 2025
The FASF also practiced operating its A400M from the Arctic’s icy runways in Canada and Greenland in January and March 2025, respectively. Copenhagen had helped it with the second location, marking enhancing diplomatic and military ties within Europe and NATO.
Speaking about the visit to Pituffick, Forsvaret explained “the flight also gave the Danish commander of the fighter aircraft, Niels Andersen, the opportunity to greet the base’s management.” Andersen “received a thorough briefing about the base and how they carry out their tasks under the sometimes harsh circumstances that the Arctic environment and location offer.”
Kangerlussuaq and Pituffik/Thule air bases
Greenland has seen military aircraft deployment in the past, with the latest one being in Jan. 2025, when the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) sent two F-16s from Alaska to the island during an Arctic Readiness exercise. The U.S. statement said the deployment was to establish “forward posture NORAD presence in the Arctic” in response to having “monitored multiple Russian military aircraft activity” leading up to that week.
Danish F-16 fighter jets flew over Nuuk, Greenland 🇬🇱 yesterday.
🎥: Defense pic.twitter.com/L4XJW5HhSt
– Orla Joelsen (@ojoelsen) June 25, 2025
While the statement did not specify it, the two F-16s were deployed to Thule/Pituffik Air Base, which regularly hosts NORAD assets. That deployment also came amid open rhetoric from Trump over annexing Greenland, with his Secretary of State Marco Rubio seconding that the plans were “not a joke,” according to Reuters.
🇦🇷-🇩🇰 | F-16AM MLU HAIR E-018 and E-605 fighters of the Flyvevåbnet 🇩🇰 deployed in Greenland.
These two F-16 possibly are part of the 24 F-16 acquired by the @Fuerzaaerea_arg . pic.twitter.com/6216DNlfMf
– Alfkazan24 (@alfkazan24) June 26, 2025
Denmark reinforces Greenland
Denmark had been gradually increasing its military presence on Greenland. On Jun. 9, 2025, two Danish EH-101 helicopters made the 2,000 nautical miles, 17 hour journey from Air Base Karup, in Denmark, to Nuuk, preceding the “increased presence in Greenland over the coming period.” The frigate Niels Juel also sailed from Korsør in a seven-day voyage as a part of this deployment.
After covering more than 2,000 nautical miles, two Danish helicopters have successfully arrived in Nuuk, Greenland.
The journey from Air Base Karup (DK) to Nuuk in Greenland 🇬🇱 with the two EH‑101 helicopters took over 17 hours and is part of the Danish Armed Forces’ increased… pic.twitter.com/ZQghl82VTi
– Orla Joelsen (@ojoelsen) June 9, 2025
Denmark’s previous plans to beef up its limited military presence in Greenland include upgrading Kangerlussuaq to support F-35 fighters, according to local broadcasters DR and TV2. The Danish Material and Procurement Agency also announced on Jan. 14, 2025, the acquisition of “F-35 deployment kits” from Germany. The kits are containerized modules for pilots and technicians, to be possibly used at Kangerlussuaq until the renovation there wraps up.
Source link
[aviation news]
Share this content:
