Belgium To Transfer Ten F-16s to Ukraine by the End of Year

Belgium plans to transfer ten F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever made this announcement after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, according to a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty correspondent.

“We will transfer ten this year. We have a slight delay, but it’s not our fault—it’s due to a delay in the delivery of the F-35s. We must be able to fulfill our NATO commitments, so we need the aircraft. The F-35s are now starting to arrive, and this allows us to transfer the F-16s to Ukraine,” de Wever said.

He emphasized that Ukraine urgently needs the fighter jets, particularly to combat Russian jet drones.

“The jet-powered drones that Russia now possesses have given it an advantage in the drone war. And the F-16, with its 20-millimeter cannon, is one of the few types of weaponry that can be widely used to defend against them,” explained the Belgian prime minister.

According to him, Ukraine also needs air cover to protect grain exports through the Black Sea, as well as its energy infrastructure and bridges.

De Wever said he discussed with Zelensky the possibility of accelerating deliveries, as well as the transfer of 20-millimeter ammunition manufactured by the Belgian company FN Herstal.

“We can help him. We have that capability. In particular, we can help with 20-millimeter ammunition,” he noted.

In June, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced that by the end of 2026, the country would transfer seven F-16s to Ukraine, three of which are intended for combat missions and four for spare parts.

De Wever did not specify how many of the now-promised ten aircraft would be designated for combat use and how many for spare parts.

In May 2024, Belgium committed to supplying Ukraine with a total of 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028. The overall plan calls for the transfer of 53 Belgian F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2029.

Initially, it was planned that Ukraine would receive the first Belgian fighter jets as early as 2024. However, the delivery was postponed due to delays in the arrival of American F-35s, which are set to replace the F-16s in the Belgian Air Force.

In early October, it was reported that Belgium’s transfer of three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would take place immediately after the signing of an agreement with France on the transfer of technology to a third party.