Belgium Will Transfer F-16s To Ukraine This Year

• 18.06.2026, 11:57

The first details have emerged.

Belgium will transfer seven F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026—three operational jets and four more for spare parts.

This was stated Belgian Defense Minister Theo Franken during a conversation with journalists before the start of a NATO ministerial meeting.

Franken said that Belgium has already decided to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with more fighter jets than it had previously promised.

“We are stepping up our assistance to Ukraine. This year, we will transfer seven F-16s—four of them for spare parts, and three ready to carry out missions in Ukrainian airspace to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression,” he said.

Previously, Belgium had promised to provide Ukraine with only four non-operational fighter jets to be used as a source of spare parts for other F-16s.

Brussels had planned to transfer the aircraft in 2025–2026, but no start date for the deliveries has been announced yet.

The Belgian minister stated that he considers it important to also transfer serviceable 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 that we transfer all F-16s to Ukraine in the coming years—and this will depend on our receiving the F-35s. We have our own role to play in air defense and in nuclear doctrine, and we must fulfill that role,” Franken added.

Currently, according to various sources, the Belgian Air Force has more than 40 F-16s in service.