Denmark’s New F-35s Conduct First Live Mission, Tracking Russian Il-20 Over NATO Airspace

Last week, the Royal Danish Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighters were first used as part of the Rapid Deployment Force to identify and track a Russian surveillance aircraft Il-20M Coot-A. Interception took place over Baltic Sea waters. Photo: Forsvaret According to information from the Danish authorities, “...the Danish F-35 pilots were sent to the air from the Skrydstrup combat wing. On arriving at the Baltic Sea, they were …

Newer equipment is replacing the old one in Denmark as well.

Denmark’s New F-35s Conduct First Live Mission, Tracking Russian Il-20 Over NATO Airspace

Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-35A fighter jets scrambled last week to intercept and shadow a Russian Il-20 Coot-A reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, The Aviationist reported on April 1. This marked the first operational mission for Denmark’s new F-35 fleet since the jets were declared fully mission-capable. The Danish pilots, launching from Fighter Wing Skrydstrup, visually identified the Russian Intelligence, Surveillance, and Recon…