In June 2026, the Danish Court of Auditors estimated that the cost of purchasing and operating the country's 27 F-35 aircraft over 30 years had been undervalued by 14 billion Danish crowns, or around 1.9 billion euros. The United States has sold more than 623 F-35 jets to 13 NATO allies, including 12 European countries, despite persistent criticism over operating costs and military dependence on Washington.
In Denmark too, American threats to Greenland have revived criticism against military dependence on Washington. A partner since the launch of the program, Turkey planned to acquire 100 of these planes, but was excluded by Washington in 2019 after purchasing Russian S-400 air defense systems.
Despite these criticisms, orders continue to flow in.
Its detractors denounce its operating costs, the hour of flight being estimated at more than 36,000 dollars, and doubt that they are sustainable in the long term. They also question its suitability for a conflict in the Pacific against China, where long distances and the vulnerability of bases could limit its use.
Some politicians regret the purchase of the F-35s, fearing that the United States could limit their use, but the government defends military cooperation with Washington, which goes back more than 75 years. Ottawa is now considering the possibility of mixing its fleet with planes from other manufacturers, including the Swedish Gripen, without having called into question its initial commitment for the first 16 F-35s.