Delays Loom for Danish F-35 Buy

via Defense News.

Talks are being complicated by the Social Liberals (Det Radikale Venstre / SLP) and Socialist Peoples’ (Socialistisk Folkeparti / SPP) parties, both of whom are demanding that Denmark acquires the minimum number of aircraft.
The Danish Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) Project Office requested bids for 24, 30 and 36 aircraft. In 2005, when the FRP commenced, the preferred number of aircraft sought by the DAF was 48.
Depending on the number of aircraft purchased, the overall financing requirement cost for the FRP could run between US$2.8 billion to US$4.5 billion.
According to Henrik Dam Kristensen, the Social Democrat’s spokesman on defense, those political parties that believe Denmark should purchase 18 aircraft or less are misguided.
"We require a sizeable number of aircraft to enforce our national sovereignty and to take part in international missions. Defense minister Christensen is correct to support the objective of acquiring a larger rather than fewest number of aircraft. Denmark also has large territories in the Arctic to police and protect," Kristensen said.

Read the whole article, but they could purchase as few as 18 airplanes?  Apparently the new max is 36?

The Danish Ministry of Defense is getting bent over a garbage can in a dark alley by the F-35!