Denmark's defense committee head said he regrets choosing the F-35: 'We must avoid American weapons

[Timber Rattler]

https://www.businessinsider.com/denmark-f35-regret-choosing-defense-committee-chairman-tensions-us-greenland-2025-3

The chairman of Denmark's parliamentary defense committee said he regrets choosing the F-35 for his country, citing fears that the US may threaten to cease support for the fighter.

"As one of the decision-makers behind Denmark's purchase of F-35s, I regret it," Rasmus Jarlov, a member of parliament for the center-right Conservative People's Party, wrote on social media on Wednesday.

Jarlov was addressing rumors that the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II may have a "kill-switch" that allows Washington to remotely disable F-35s purchased by US allies.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that the stealth fighter does not have such a feature.

But the Danish MP isn't convinced. "We obviously cannot take your word for it," Jarlov wrote in his post.

He added that the US could scupper Copenhagen's use of the F-35 just by stopping the supply of spare parts — a similar dilemma that Ukraine faced when Washington temporarily paused military aid.

EXCERPT

More consequences.

 

[Hoodat]

The chairman of Denmark's parliamentary defense committee said he regrets choosing the F-35 for his country, citing fears that the US may threaten to cease support for the fighter.

Reason #147 why a one-size-fits-all approach is an asinine idea, especially when it comes to national defense.

[Cyber Liberty]

Okay, then buy MIGs.

[Cyber Liberty]

https://www.businessinsider.com/denmark-f35-regret-choosing-defense-committee-chairman-tensions-us-greenland-2025-3

EXCERPT

More consequences.

 

Why should I care where Denmark buys their military hardware?

[MeganC]

Okay, then buy MIGs.

There are other fighters on the market these days.

Also, the USA could easily end this debacle by providing for the F-35 to be 'sovereign' instead of the US maintaining a kill-switch to prevent the Europeans from using it to defend themselves from Russia.

[Timber Rattler]

Okay, then buy MIGs.

Not MiGs but the very capable Dassault, Saab, and BAE Systems companies.  Lockheed Martin won't be very happy with the lost business, and neither will the Pentagon, since fewer operators of the design means higher manufacturing costs for parts and upgrades.

Why should I care where Denmark buys their military hardware?

Because if other NATO and other allies follow suit, then U.S. military manufacturers could be crippled.  That's why the U.S. government has always pressured allied Nations into buying our defense products---to keep costs down, standardize everything (to our specs and nobody else's), and keep those factories running.  There aren't many left, you know---Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Grumman are about it when it comes to aerospace.

[Cyber Liberty]

Not MiGs but the very capable Dassault, Saab, and BAE Systems companies.  Lockheed Martin won't be very happy with the lost business, and neither will the Pentagon, since fewer operators of the design means higher manufacturing costs for parts and upgrades.

Because if other NATO and other allies follow suit, then U.S. military manufacturers could be crippled.  That's why the U.S. government has always pressured allied Nations into buying our defense products---to keep costs down, standardize everything (to our specs and nobody else's), and keep those factories running.  There aren't many left, you know---Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Grumman are about it when it comes to aerospace.

Thanks!