Royal Danish Air Force
Royal Danish Air Force | |
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Flyvevåbnet | |
Danish Armed Forces | |
Stable belt | |
Engagements |
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Website | www |
Commanders | |
Trainer | Saab MFI-17 Supporter |
Transport | Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules |
The Royal Danish Air Force (
History
The Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) was formed as a military service independent from the army and navy in 1950 from the merger of the Danish Army Air Corps (Danish: Hærens Flyvertropper) founded on 2 July 1912[8] and the Danish Naval Air Service (Danish: Marinens Flyvevæsen) which had been founded on 14 December 1911.[9] All military aviation had been prohibited during the Nazi occupation from 1940 to 1945 and so as of V-E Day the Danish armed forces had no aircraft, but the Luftwaffe had built or expanded air bases in Denmark.
The air force was led by Lieutenant General C.C.J. Førslev, who had previously served as a colonel in the army and as first commander of the Danish Army Air Corps. The national command was located at Værløse Air Base which also served as Command East, while Command West was located at Karup in central Jutland. Royal Air Force volunteer and former member of the
The
One survived for a number of years in a children's playground. The one surviving instructional airframe was later restored to depict the number '401' Spitfire Mk. IX. This airplane is now preserved at Dansk Veteranflysamling at Stauning Airfield in Jutland.[12]
Pilot training was initially based at Avnø from May 1946 until 1951, when the school were transferred to the U.S. under the "Military Assistance Programme". The school at Avnø continued to conduct tests to choose the candidates for the American training programme. In 1947 the RDAF established a school for aircraft mechanics, based at Værløse Air Base.[13] In 1951, the RDAF officers school was inaugurated at Rungstedlund north of Copenhagen, while airmen were educated at Værløse.
1950s
The air force received six
To avoid further casualties the air force established a training squadron of two-seated
1960s
In 1962, the Royal Danish Army's four
In 1968, Denmark became the first of three export customers for the Saab 35 Draken (Kite/Dragon). Ever since 1966 the Danish government had started looking for an aircraft to replace two squadrons of Republic RF-84F Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft and North American F-100 Super Sabre fighter/ground attacker aircraft. A number of candidates were considered and these were: the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk, Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter, Vought A-7 Corsair II, Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, Dassault Mirage III/5 and Saab's Draken. The F-5 and Mirage 5 were the favourites while the Draken was one of the least popular since it had poor payload/range performance and could not carry heavy weapon loads. In response to the Kongelige Danske Flyvevåben's (Royal Danish Air Force's) initial dislike, Saab decided to create a new Draken variant that would put it on the top of the competition shortlist.
1970s
In the 1960s and 1970s, the RDAF operated a number of
The first Danish Draken, designated F35, delivery took place on 1 September 1970 when three F35s were delivered to Karup Air Base. They were later followed by another 17 F35s and six TF35s. Since the F35s lacked radar, they replaced F-100Ds in the ground attack role. However, Sidewinder AAMS could be carried for self-defence. The six trainers were delivered between 1970 and 1972 and the F35s were delivered between 1970 and 1971.
In 1971, the Danish army created the Royal Danish Army Flying Service as the first air-unit outside the air force, since its creation in 1950. It had observation helicopters and piston-engined artillery spotting aeroplanes. In 1977 the
1980s
In 1982, the number of fighter aircraft was reduced by 12 units. General Dynamics F-16 is introduced to replace initially the F-100 and later the F-104G. The Royal Danish Naval Air Service is strengthened by eight Westland Lynx Mk. 80 from 1980, replacing the Alouette III helicopters. As a supplement to the Greenland-based C-130s the air force purchases three Gulfstream G-III.[14]
1990s
In 1990, the Danish Army Air Corps purchases 12 Eurocopter Fennec lightweight attack helicopters to strengthen capabilities to perform expeditionary mission. The helicopters were transferred to RDAF in 2003.
In 1992, during the Yugoslavian civil wars, the RDAF C-130 Hercules aircraft were used for transport of the 900 Danish troops participating in the UN-led mission to the Balkans. In 1996, a C-130 joined the NATO On-Call International Airlift Pool along with a Gulfstream aircraft. The Gulfstreams were replaced by Challenger planes the following year, when the Danish government ordered the three Challengers in current use.
In 1999, following the end of the
2000s
In 2002, Denmark joined the
In October 2002, a tri-national detachment of 18 Danish,
In 2004, the older
In 2005, a modification program (Mid Life Update) was completed on the remaining F-16 aircraft. The modification programme, started in 1995, introduced a new mission computer, colour multifunction displays, and other avionic improvements. Despite the modifications and improvements, in 2013/14 the Danish air force was considering the replacement of 30 F-16s with a more advanced fighter. Contenders include the two-seated Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and the Eurofighter Typhoon. The decision of the selected type will be announced before the end of June 2015*. Update: the RADF have selected the F-35 and 27 units are to be procured.[15][16]
In 2003, 16
In 2005, the 16 Cayuses were decommissioned, and also one of the Fennecs. The remaining 12 Fennecs took over many of the tasks from the Cayuses, including support-functions of the Danish police.
In 2006, the air force signed a
2010s
In June 2010 the Sikorsky S-61 SAR helicopter was withdrawn.
The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), short listed five helicopters as potential replacements for the Lynx with around 12 new naval helicopters needed. The Sikorsky/Lockheed MH-60R, the NH90/NFH, H-92, AW159 and AW101 were on the short list and a Request For Proposal was issued on 30 September 2010. Ultimately the air force decided to buy nine Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters.
In 2014, RDAF flew F-16 fighter jets in Greenland for the first time, testing the operational capabilities of maintaining sovereignty of the vast arctic airspace.[18]
In 2005 the RDAF requested information about the possible procurement of a replacement for the F-16 fighter aircraft from the producers of the
2020s
In January 2020, Lockheed Martin announced that assembly had begun on L-001, the first of 27 F-35As destined for the Royal Danish Air Force.[23] The first F-35 was transferred to the Danish Air Force on 7 April 2021.[24][25]
On 14 September 2023, the first four F-35A fighters arrived at Skrydstrup air base after a transfer flight from Lockheed Martin's facilities in the USA.[26]
Structure
Structure in the late 1980s
The Royal Danish Air Force Command was headquartered at
In 1989 the Royal Danish Air Force consisted of the following units:
- Royal Danish Air Force, in Karup, commanded by a Danish lieutenant general[27][28]
- Flyveskolen (Basic Flying School), Avnø Air Base, T-17 Supporter
- Air Force Materiel Command, Karup
- Air Force Depot Service
- Air Force Maintenance Service
- Air Force Ammunition Arsenal
- Tactical Air Command, Karup
- Aalborg Air Base
- Eskadrille 723, F-16A
- Eskadrille 726, F-16A
- Karup Air Base
- Eskadrille 725, F-35 Draken, TF-35 Draken
- Eskadrille 729, Reconnaissance, RF-35 Draken, TF-35 Draken
- Tirstrup Air Base
- Co-located Operating Base to be reinforced by U.S. Air Force / Royal Air Forcesquadrons
- Co-located Operating Base to be reinforced by
- Vandel Air Base
- Co-located Operating Base to be reinforced by U.S. Air Force / Royal Air Force squadrons
- Skrydstrup Air Base
- Eskadrille 727, F-16A
- Eskadrille 730, F-16A
- Værløse Air Base
- Eskadrille 721, Transport, C-130H Hercules, Gulfstream III
- Eskadrille 722, Search and rescue, S-61A helicopters
- Aalborg Air Base
- Air Defence Command East, Skalstrup Air Station
- Eskadrille 541, Stevns Fort, with 1x I-Hawk battery (6x launchers)
- Eskadrille 542, Kongelund Fort near Aflangshagen Air Station, with 1x I-Hawk battery (6x launchers)
- Eskadrille 543, Sigerslev Air Station, with 1x I-Hawk battery (6x launchers)
- Eskadrille 544, Tune near Skalstrup Air Station, with 1x I-Hawk battery (6x launchers)
- Air Defence Command West, Karup
- Eskadrille 531, Odense, with 1x I-Hawk battery (6x launchers)
- Eskadrille 532, Odense, with 1x I-Hawk battery (6x launchers)
- Eskadrille 533, Skrydstrup Air Base, with 1x I-Hawk battery (6x launchers)
- Eskadrille 534, Karup Air Base, with 1x I-Hawk battery (6x launchers)
- Air Control Command, at Vedbæk Air Station
Structure in 2020
- Air Command Denmark, at Karup Air Base
- National Air Operations Centre, at Karup Air Base
- Joint Movement and Transportation Organization (JMTO), at Karup Air Base
- Prince's Music Corps, originally from the army's Prince's Life Regiment[29]
- Air Transport Wing, at Aalborg Air Base
- CL-604(Airborne Surveillance)
- Operations Support Squadron
- Logistic Support Squadron
- Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- Helicopter Wing, at Karup Air Base
- Search and Rescueduty)
- MH-60R Seahawk[30]
- Eskadrille 724, with 11× AS550 C2 Fennec[30]
- Flyveskolen (Flying School), with 27× T-17 Supporter
- Operations Support Squadron
- Logistic Support Squadron
- Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- Skrydstrup Air Base
- F-16AM/BM Falcon
- Eskadrille 730, with 15× F-16AM/BM Falcon
- Operations Support Squadron
- Logistic Support Squadron
- Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- Air Control Wing, at Karup Air Base
- Control and Reporting Centre Karup (CRC Karup), reports to NATO's Integrated Air Defense System CAOC Uedem in Germany
- Mobile Air Control Centre
- Radar Station in Skagen, with fixed RAT-31DL radar
- Radar Station at Skrydstrup Air Base, with two mobile AN/TPS-77radars
- Radar Station on Bornholm, with fixed S-723 radar
- Radar Station, at Sornfelli, Faroe Islands*
- Operations Support Wing, at Karup Air Base[31]
- Tactical Support Squadron
- Base Protection Squadron
- Mission Support Squadron
- Wing Reserve Squadron
Operations
- From 1960 to 1964 RDAF S-55 helicopters flew missions for UNOC in the Congolese civil war.
- In 1999, 9 F-16 fighters flew sorties over Operation Allied Force.
- In 2002 and 2003, 6 F-16 fighter bombers flew 743 sorties against Ganci AB, Kyrgyzstan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
- From July to October 2004, 4 F-16 fighters in Šiauliai, Lithuania, was Denmark's contribution to NATO's Operation Baltic Air Policing. The air policing mission was also undertaken by Danish F-16s in 2009, 2011 and 2013[32]
- In 2005 three AS550C2 Fennec helicopters were deployed to Iraq for two months to assist the Danish ground forces during the first free elections in the country. In 2007 four Fennecs again deployed to Iraq, this time mainly to provide airborne reconnaissance for convoys on the ground around Basra. The helicopters completed 354 missions before returning home in December 2007.[33]
- 4 Helmand province, and were assigned to provide high altitude observation for Danish ground forces, as well as light transport.[34]
- From 19 March 2011, 6 F-16 aircraft from Fighter Wing Skrydstrup were deployed to 2011 coalition intervention in Libya.
- From 11 July 2014, 3 EH-101 Merlin helicopters were deployed to Afghanistan.[35] One suffered extensive damage when it rolled over during landing on 11 October 2014. No casualties.[36][37]
- From 5 October 2014, seven Islamic State forces (ISIS / ISIL) as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Aircraft
Current inventory
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | ||||||
F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | multirole | F-16AM | 30[38][39] | ||
F-35 Lightning II | United States | multirole | F-35A | 4[26] | 17 on order | |
Maritime Patrol | ||||||
Challenger 604 | Canada | surveillance / patrol / VIP | CL-604 | 4[40] | ||
Transport | ||||||
C-130J Super Hercules | United States | tactical airlifter | C-130J-30 | 4[41] | ||
Helicopters
| ||||||
Eurocopter Fennec | France | utility | AS550C2 | 11[41] | ||
SH-60 Seahawk | United States | ASW / SAR | MH-60R | 9[41] | flown for the Danish Navy
| |
AgustaWestland AW101 | UK
|
transport / SAR | Mk.512 | 14[41] | ||
Trainer Aircraft
| ||||||
MFI-17 Supporter | Sweden | basic trainer | 27[41] | |||
F-35 Lightning II | United States | conversion trainer
|
F-35A | 6[41][42] | ||
F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | conversion trainer | F-16BM | 11[39][41] | ||
Pipistrel Velis Electro | Slovenia | basic trainer | 2[43] | on lease[44] |
Ranks
Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal Danish Air Force[45] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Generalløjtnant | Generalmajor | Brigadegeneral | Oberst | Oberstløjtnant | Major | Kaptajn | Premierløjtnant
|
Løjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | Sergent (Officerselev) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish Pay Grade[46] | M406 | M405 | M404 | M403 | M402 | M401 | M332 M331 M322 |
M321 | M312 | M311 | M310 |
Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
NATO rank scale | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal Danish Air Force[45] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chefsergent | Seniorsergent | Oversergent | Sergent | Sergent (Officerselev) |
Korporal | Flyverspecialist | Flyveroverkonstabel | Flyverkonstabel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish Pay Grade[46] | M232 | M231 | M221 | M212 | M211 | M113 | M112 |
See also
- List of military aircraft of Denmark
- Danish Defence
- List of Lockheed F-104 Starfighter operators
- Military of Greenland
- NATO
- Royal Danish Army
- Royal Danish Navy
- Scandinavian defence union
References
- ^ "The Danish Defence Agreement 2005 – 2009 – Air Force, retrieved 25 June 2008". Archived from the original on 6 June 2008.
- ^ "Danish Defence: Arms and equipment of the air force" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011.
- ^ "organizational chart". Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Organisation". Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Jensen, Kenneth Skov (31 May 2016). "Chief Master Sergeant of the Royal Danish Air Force Started Work". Centralforeningen for Stampersonel (in Danish). Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ ""The Danish Defence Agreement 2013–2017"" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ "About the RDAF". Forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. 19 January 2017. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Flyvevåbnets Historie: Hærens Flyverstyrker 1912 – 1943" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- ^ "Flyvevåbnets Historie: Marinens Flyvevæsen 1911–1940" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- ^ "FTK – Flyvertaktisk Kommando". Archived from the original on 13 November 2004.
- ^ "FTK – Flyvertaktisk Kommando". Archived from the original on 13 November 2004.
- ^ "Danmarks Flymuseum, Stauning Lufthavn". Archived from the original on 18 May 2004.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ The Selection of a New Fighter Starts Again Archived 18 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine 13 March 2013
- ^ "Informationsanmodning udsendt til kampflykandidater". Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Defense News: Arrival of Danish Merlin helicopters increases UK fleet Archived 10 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 10 April 2011.
- ^ Osborne, Tony. "Denmark Looks To Boost Greenland Defenses Archived 3 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine" Aviation Week & Space Technology, 29 September 2014. Accessed: 3 October 2014. Video Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Archived on 3 October 2014
- ^ "Tidslinje". Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Denmark F-35 Buy Goes Official". Defense News. 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017.
- ^ "Danish Government OKs $3 Billion Purchase of 27 F-35 Fighter Jets". Lockheed Martin. 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- ^ Jennings, Gareth (28 January 2020). "Lockheed Martin begins build of first F-35 for Denmark". Jane's. London. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- ^ "F-35 Rollout". Danish Ministry of Defense. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Sådan gik det til, da Danmark købte kampfly". Altinget. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ a b Meier, Ricardo (14 September 2023). "First F-35A fighters arrive in Denmark". Air Data News. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "RDAF". Archived from the original on 22 January 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Version 3". Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Prinsens Musikkorps overgår til Flyvevåbnet | Prinsens Musikkorps".
- ^ a b c "Om Helicopter Wing Karup". Royal Danish Air Force. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ "Operations Support Wing Organisation". Royal Danish Air Force. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ Air policing over the Baltics again "Igen danske F-16 over Baltikum". Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011. (in Danish).
- ^ "Danish helicopters finished in Iraq (in Danish)". 19 December 2007. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ^ Danish Fennecs Deploy to Afghanistan, Air Forces Monthly, August 2008 issue, p. 14
- AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. October 2014. p. 33.
- ^ "Danish helicopter rolled over in Afghanistan Archived 14 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine" Politiken, 12 October 2014. Accessed: 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Helikopter Hold 1 er hjemme igen Archived 1 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine" RDAF, 30 October 2014. Accessed: 31 October 2014.
- ^ "Denmark likely to make decision on fighter jets to Ukraine 'before summer'". thelocal.dk. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Denmark". F-16.net - The ultimate F-16, F-35 and F-22 reference. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "CL-604 Challenger". forsvaret.dk (in Danish). 11 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "World Air Forces 2023". Flight Global. Flightglobal Insight. 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Det første F-35, der skal til Danmark, er nu leveret i USA". Forsvaret. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Nu har Forsvaret el-fly". Forsvaret (in Danish). 18 November 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Hovgaard, Laurids (7 March 2023). "Forsvaret returnerer sine elfly: Batterierne rækker kun til små korte skoleøvelser". Ingeniøren.(subscription required)
- ^ a b "Flyvevåbnets Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. October 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Historik". forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
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