Belgium's first F-35s from US pave way for F-16 transfer to Ukraine
Photo: Belgium's F-35 deliveries may delay F-16 transfer to Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Belgium will receive its first four F-35 fighter jets from the United States on Monday, October 13. The delivery will open the way for Belgium to send its F-16 jets to Ukraine, Defense Minister Theo Francken said in an interview with Le Soir.
Francken said they had started with a visit to the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas, where Belgium's F-35s were being assembled, and that the first four aircraft would arrive in Florennes on Monday.
Why Belgium's F-35 deliveries matter for Ukraine
Two years ago, in 2023, then-Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said Belgium planned to transfer several of its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in 2025. She did not specify how many but noted the handover would depend on expanding Belgium's new F-35 fleet.
Francken, who now heads the Defense Ministry, said in May that Ukraine could receive F-16s from Belgium earlier than expected.
"As for the F-16s - we are already part of and will remain in the F-16 coalition, and we will try to deliver the planes even earlier than the set deadline. I think this is also good news," he said.
