Belgium sends F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, some to be used for spare parts
Photo: Belgium will transfer seven F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this year (Getty Images)
Belgium will transfer 7 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026, 3 combat-ready aircraft and 4 more for spare parts, according to Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken.
Francken announces that Belgium has already decided to transfer more fighter jets to the Ukrainian Armed Forces than it had previously promised.
"On Ukraine, we are stepping up even more on the help. We are delivering 7 F-16s this year—4 for spare parts and 3 to operate in the sky of Ukraine, to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression," he says.
Previously, Belgium had promised to transfer only four non-combat-ready fighter jets to Ukraine, to be used as a source of spare parts for other F-16s.
Brussels had planned to transfer the aircraft in 2025–2026, but so far, no start date for the deliveries has been announced.
The Belgian Minister states that he considers it important to also transfer operational fighter jets, as they have proven to be a good platform against Shaheds and cruise missiles.
According to him, the Belgian Ministry of Defense plans to significantly increase the volume of deliveries.
"I will propose to the government to send all our F-16s to Ukraine in the coming years. It depends on having the F-35s in place because, of course, we have DCA (defensive counter-air - ed.) capacity. We have our role in the nuclear doctrine of NATO," Francken adds.
Currently, the Belgian Air Force has, according to various sources, more than 40 F-16 aircraft in service.
Delays in F-16 deliveries
Belgium and Norway are delaying the delivery of 36 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which accounts for nearly half of the total number of aircraft promised.
The aircraft promised by Norway are stuck at an aircraft repair facility in Belgium, where the refurbishment process has effectively stalled.
At the same time, Belgium itself has not delivered a single aircraft in three years. Officials in Brussels justify the delay by claiming that they allegedly never gave Kyiv any specific delivery dates.
