The Belgian F-16s promised to Ukraine will not ultimately be delivered before the end of the year: here’s why

Invasion of Ukraine: already 1.21 billion in military aid, 3,100 soldiers trained but still no F-16

This delivery was, however, conditional on maintaining the “operationality of [la] Belgian air capacity”. In order to maintain this level of capacity, the F-16s will therefore only be delivered to Ukraine when the first F-35s arrive in Belgium, specifies the minister’s office. The latter, which must replace the F-16s, however, are lagging behind.

The lack of spare parts for the Belgian F-16s still in service, as well as the training of an insufficient number of Ukrainian pilots, also play a role in the inability to deliver the F-16s to kyiv on time. announced, according to Ludivine Dedonder.

Belgium should, however, contribute to this training of Ukrainian pilots in 2025. Next year, a detachment of 55 Belgian personnel will in fact be present for three months in Portugal in order to train Ukrainian soldiers to pilot fighter-bombers, announced Friday morning the minister, on the occasion of the presentation in Poland of Defense operations in 2025.