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DANISH AIR POWER
June 11, 2025
Photos: Atsu Tayake
After 46 years of service, the Royal Danish Air Force officially retired its F-16 fleet on January 18, 2026, during ceremonies at Skrydstrup Air Base, closing a long and distinguished chapter in Danish military aviation as the service transitions to the F-35A Lightning II. On June 11, 2025, Atsu Tayake flew aboard the Aviation PhotoCrew Skyvan to photograph Captain Troels “TEO” Vang at the controls of the strikingly painted F-16AM E-006 “Dannebrog.” He also photographed other Royal Danish Air Force F-16s and their F-35 replacements, producing a rare visual record of Denmark’s legacy fighter force and the aircraft taking its place.
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