Ukraine to receive dozens of F-16 fighter jets from Belgium – Defense Express
Photo: The first Belgian F-16s may arrive in Ukraine as early as 2026 (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine will receive additional F-16 fighter jets from Belgium. The country is already beginning to receive its first fifth-generation F-35 aircraft as replacements, Defense Express reports.
The new F-35s, which Belgium had been waiting for seven years, have arrived at the Florennes Air Base, where they will be assigned to the 1st Squadron. They are expected to be ready for rapid response operations by 2027.
At the same time, Belgium will keep its F-16s in service until 2028, when they will be fully replaced by fifth-generation fighters.
The older aircraft will gradually be withdrawn from the country's air force and then transferred to Ukraine.
The F-35 deliveries to Belgium are being carried out by the US company Lockheed Martin. According to the original agreement, the first aircraft were expected to arrive in 2023, but they were ready in 2024 and were used for pilot training in the United States.
The first F-35 specifically intended for Belgium rolled off the production line only in early June this year, bearing the number FL009. The initial batch transferred to Belgium consists of four aircraft.
The outlet suggests this will allow Belgium to send its first F-16s to Ukraine in 2026. This will strengthen Ukraine's air fleet and provide its defenders with additional operational capacity.
In total, Belgium ordered 34 F-35A jets under a contract signed seven years ago, in October 2018. Recently, the country decided this number would not be sufficient and plans to order an additional 11 units.
Ukraine may also receive Swedish multi-role Gripen fighters. Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk confirmed this but did not specify when or how many aircraft would be delivered.
