Last checked at 
* Government to recommend Lockheed Martin F-35 jets -sources
* Denmark to buy at least 27 of the fighter jets -sources
* F-35 choice can be blocked by Danish parliament (Adds details, background)
By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Tim Hepher
COPENHAGEN/PARIS, May 11 (Reuters) - Denmark's governmentwill recommend the purchase of at least 27 F-35 stealth fightersbuilt by U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin Corp, peoplefamiliar with the matter said on Wednesday.
Denmark would be the 11th country to buy the radar-evadingjets, joining the United States, Britain, Australia, Turkey,Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan.
The selection by Denmark's minority Liberal governmentfollows intense public debate about the cost of modernising thecountry's air force, but it can still be blocked by parliament,where opposition politicians are urging budget restraint.
Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen called a pressbriefing for Thursday at 0800 GMT on the issue, but thegovernment declined further comment.
The recommendation, first reported by Denmark's TV2 News,will be followed by a public comment period of 30 days, said oneof the people, who was not authorised to speak publicly. Thefinal number of jets could shift during this period.
If confirmed, the decision will mark a setback for Boeing, another U.S. weapons maker that mounted an expensivelast-ditch marketing effort for its older F/A-18E/F SuperHornet, and the four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon consortium thatincludes Airbus Group.
News of the recommendation emerged as doubts were raisedover a crucial parliamentary committee hearing scheduled forFriday.
All three bidders have been invited to present their jets,but Denmark's Conservative Party said Lockheed and Boeing hadbeen told by Washington not to participate. A spokesman for theU.S. embassy confirmed they had been advised to stay away.
Airbus Group said it still planned to attend and called fora "healthy and transparent" public debate.
Although viewed by many as an outside contender, Eurofighterappears to be gambling on parliamentary support for a Europeansolution after a bitter spat between U.S. rivals. The Germangovernment is expected to throw its weight behind the bid bysending defence state secretary Katrin Suder to give evidence.
At approximately $100 million per jet plus infrastructureand spares, the F-35 is the most expensive of the three planesbeing considered after cost overruns and delays.
The United States says that will fall to about $85 millionper plane by 2019.
Some of Denmark's biggest parties including the SocialDemocrats have raised concerns about the economic impact of fighter purchases at a time of spending pressures.
Lockheed, Boeing and Airbus said they had not received anyofficial notification from the Danish government. The Pentagon'sF-35 programme office had no immediate comment.
Denmark is one of eight original partners that helped funddevelopment of the F-35 and flies Lockheed F-16 jets alongsideBelgium, Norway and the Netherlands.
Its decision is being watched worldwide as several othernations prepare to decide how to renew fleets. Lockheed ischasing further deals in Canada and elsewhere. (Additional reporting by Reuters Newsrooms; Editing byAlexander Smith)