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Two Royal Danish Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs landed at Kangerlussuaq Airport alongside U.S. F-16s and Canadian CF-18s as part of NATO’s Arctic Sentry initiative.

For the first time, Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-35A Lightning IIs were deployed to Greenland, landing at Kangerlussuaq Airport on Sep. 16, 2026, alongside U.S. Air Force F-16s and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-18s. The Forsvaret (Danish Defence Command) said this was part of NATO’s Arctic Sentry initiative launched in February 2026, as Europe closed ranks in support of Copenhagen amid President Donald Trump’s threats on Greenland. 

The new development follows earlier Danish F-35s flights over Greenland, including individual and joint exercises with the U.S. and Canada, and culminated in the Lightning IIs landing in the Arctic territory.

For the exercise, the RDAF F-35As operated from Keflavik Air Base in Iceland. They were supported by a French Air and Space Force (FASF) A330 Phénix Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), a NATO E-3 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft and a Danish CL-604 Challenger providing Search and Rescue (SAR) cover.

5th-gen in the Arctic: Integrated, Interoperable, Ready.

Danish F-35s have landed in Greenland for the first time, training alongside U.S. F-16s and Canadian F-18s in the High North.

Supported by French air-to-air refuelling and @NATOAWACS, Allied aircraft… pic.twitter.com/qvkFBwRukh

— NATO Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk – JFCNF (@JFCNorfolk) September 19, 2026

The U.S. and Canadian jets operated from Goose Bay in Canada. The former’s aircraft deployed there on Sept. 15 and flew over Greenland supported by a KC-135 Stratotanker on Sept. 16. The U.S. Air Force called its deployment to Kangerlussuaq as Operation Arctic Vanguard.

Operating under AFNORTH (@1stAF), members of the 115th Fighter Wing (@115thWing) successfully executed missions in Greenland as part of Operation ARCTIC VANGUARD.

The unit deployed to Pituffik Space Base to validate U.S. Northern Command’s operational capabilities and defensive… pic.twitter.com/FvMDHviXZz

— U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) September 16, 2026

F-35 and other fighter deployments in Greenland

The images released by the Danish Defense, DVIDS network and NATO show two RDAF F-35As, four USAF F-16s and two RCAF CF-18s (Canadian designation for the F/A-18C/D Hornet) arrived at Kangerlussuaq airport. The Forsvaret emphasized the challenges associated with the multinational, long-range deployment in extreme Arctic conditions. 

Military leaders and pilots from the United States, Denmark and Canada pose for a group photo during Operation ARCTIC VANGUARD at Kangerlussuaq, Greenland Sep. 16, 2026. | Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colin Perkins

U.S. Air Force F-35As have also deployed to the U.S.-operated Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in Greenland for a few years now. The most recent deployment took place on Sept. 9, 2026, and involved at least one F-35A from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing, under Operation Arctic Vanguard.

The statements clarified that the RDAF’s now-retired F-16s had also “operated from Kangerlussuaq airport […] for training and operations in the Arctic.” This referred to the short, two-hour deployment on Jun. 25, 2025 of two RDAF F-16s from Kangerlussuaq to Pituffik.

#NORAD‘s ability to defend North America is built upon the foundation of partnerships. The U.S., Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark have an interest in collective defense that will strengthen the unity of effort in the #HighNorth. #WeHaveTheWatch #StrongerTogether https://t.co/uy9gTt4xlA

— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) October 10, 2025

Laying the groundwork with F-35 patrols and F-16 deployments

The first RDAF F-35 deployment to Greenland followed earlier flights in which the service’s Lightning IIs flew directly from Skrydstrup Air Base to conduct “patrols on the east coast of Greenland,” as reported on Jan. 16, 2026. The two F-35s were supported by an FASF Phénix that time as well, as shown by the images released by the Forsvaret. Denmark had previously helped the FASF prepare its A400M cargo aircraft to operate from icy runways in Polar regions.

The Forsvaret described the mission’s objectives and the route taken by the aircraft:

“The mission was to practice joint operations with aerial refueling, long-range flying, and safety in the harsh Arctic conditions. The route for the aircraft was from Fighter Wing Skrydstrup and directly to the area around Kulusuk on the east coast of Greenland. The French tanker aircraft came from its base in the South of France where it returned after training in Greenland. During the training in the North Atlantic, the aircraft also passed the Faroe Islands.”

Earlier this year, on Jan. 16, the Forsvaret said that 2026 would see continued “air, sea and land-based activities” in Greenland “to improve the ability to operate in the extreme Arctic.” It also indicated that future flights of F-35s and tanker aircraft would take place, hinting at the eventual deployment that took place last week.

Picture of two RDAF F-35As released by Forsvaret on Feb. 6, 2026 announcing its flights off the east coast of Greenland in the weeks preceding to that date as a part of the U.S.-led Operation Noble Defender.Then, on Feb. 6 the Forsvaret announced that it had supported the U.S. and Canada’s North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) during Operation Noble Defender in the Arctic.

The Danish contribution “included several F-35 fighter jets deployed from Keflavik,” with two visible in the images, and supported by a French Phénix tanker, conducting “air military operations and surveillance around Iceland and in southeastern Greenland.” Denmark also deployed a Challenger to Kangerlussuaq for SAR support, ensuring “sufficient rescue readiness during the American and Canadian air operations” from Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland.

On Feb. 11, the Forsvaret announced that the “Danish-led activity in and around Greenland,” locally designated Arctic Endurance, would become part of NATO’s Arctic Sentry and continue throughout 2026. The statement mentioned “deploying fighter aircraft in and around Greenland” among other military and civilian support exercises.  

Danish F-35s together with a French A330 MRTT aerial refueling aircraft on the east coast of Greenland. | Source: Danish Armed Forces/Rune Dyrholm

Describing the activity as intended to “strengthen NATO’s northern flank,” the Forsvaret added that Arctic Endurance “will be expanded and will include more nations.” This eventually led to the Arctic Shield 2026 maneuvers within NATO’s Arctic Sentry.

Danish F-35s land in Greenland for the first time

In its latest release, the Forsvaret said that the RDAF F-35As “landed for the first time at Kangerlussuaq Airport in Greenland,” and trained with U.S. F-16s and Canadian CF-18 “to synchronize the efforts of many aircraft from different nations and bases, which are spread over large distances.” While the NATO E-3 AWACS (not seen in official images) “conducted airspace surveillance and coordination,” the RDAF Challenger provided SAR cover to assist “if one of the pilots were to experience problems.”   

Our Alaskan NORAD Region #ANR F‑16s are out the door to support NORAD Operation ARCTIC VANGUARD 26‑4.2.

Operating under our Nordic Bridge concept, this recurring operation aligns multinational forces across multiple domains to secure and defend North America’s northern… https://t.co/zuVMLvs4DT

— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) September 17, 2026

One of the RDAF F-35 pilots said in the release: “We are basically training the ability to synchronize the efforts of many aircraft from different nations and bases, which are spread over large distances. There are many cogs in motion for such an operation to be carried out safely and according to plan.”

The release emphasized the challenges that Arctic deployments can pose to both aircrews and planning because of unpredictable weather, long distances and limited number of suitable landing spots. “Therefore, a large part of the work on a mission like this is completed even before the planes take off,” mentioned the statement.

Seeing further. Knowing more. Ready to respond.

NATO AWACS is taking Arctic Sentry to the skies – providing JFC Norfolk with an enhanced air and surface picture across the High North.

Operating from Iceland , NATO’s E-3A strengthens situational awareness across a region… pic.twitter.com/FwZTkLZ5uS

— NATO Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk – JFCNF (@JFCNorfolk) September 18, 2026

A DVIDS photo caption described Operation Arctic Vanguard:

“OAV demonstrates the Nordic Bridge concept, enhancing cooperation between United States Northern Command, United States European Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command and NATO in order to expand domain awareness, strengthen deterrence, and improve interoperability.”