Skrydstrup Air Base

Skrydstrup Air Base, also known as Fighter Wing Skrydstrup, is the only military air base in Denmark where fighter aircraft are permanently stationed. Located in South Jutland, near the village of Skrydstrup, the base plays a central role in Danish defense.

The base's history dates back to 1943, when it was established by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. After the war, the site was used for a time as a refugee camp before being officially converted into a Danish air base in 1953. Over the decades, various types of fighter aircraft have been stationed here, including the F-84 Thunderjet, the F-100 Super Sabre, and, since the 1980s, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Today, Skrydstrup is home to several units, including two F-16 squadrons, and since 2023, the first Danish F-35A Lightning II aircraft. The introduction of this new generation of fighter jets was accompanied by significant infrastructure investments, including a completely new F-35 campus with maintenance facilities, offices, and a 13-meter-high noise barrier to protect local residents from noise pollution.

The base covers almost 850 hectares and has three parallel runways, the widest of which is 50 meters. Approximately 1,000 people work there, divided into operational, technical, and logistics departments.

Regarding local relations, there is active communication with the local population. There are meetings with residents, a night flight notification system, and a noise monitoring system with monitoring stations that can also be temporarily installed on private property. Despite concerns about noise pollution, particularly from the louder F-35s, many residents report that the noise is limited to a few brief moments each day.

Skrydstrup plays an important international role within NATO. It is used for joint exercises and, since 2023, also for the training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots. The base has become a key strategic hub within the European defense structure.

In summary, Skrydstrup Air Base is a modernly equipped and historically significant air base that functions as the heart of Danish air defense. It combines advanced technology with a conscious approach to its impact on the environment.

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Source

• Text: RJArmy.nl
• Photos: RJArmy.nl