Belgium will delay the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine for at least a year.

Belgium will not be able to deliver the first batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine on time. This is due to the delay in the delivery of F-35 aircraft from the U.S., which Belgium planned to use as a replacement for the F-16s. This was reported by the Chief of the Belgian General Staff, Frédéric Vancina, according to "Militarny."

«The delivery of the first of 30 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine from Belgium is postponed for at least a year – until the end of 2025», – quotes Militarny Frédéric Vancina.

Belgium signed a contract for the supply of new generation American F-35 fighter jets for its Air Force back in 2018, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2023. However, during this time, only one aircraft has been delivered under the contract, which Belgian pilots are using for training at a base in the U.S.

In 2024, Belgium joined with the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway in an aviation coalition. Initially, the country was only providing pilot training and logistical support. However, it later announced its readiness to transfer aircraft to Ukraine as well. Belgium planned to start delivering its F-16 fighters to Ukraine in 2025. Overall, the country promised to supply 30 aircraft by 2028.

F-16 Fighters in Ukraine

On August 4, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine had received the first batch of F-16 fighter jets, which are already undertaking combat missions. On December 7, Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the second batch of such aircraft, provided by Denmark, arrived in Ukraine. Overall, according to Bloomberg, Ukraine was expected to receive 20 F-16 fighters by the end of 2024.

On February 6, 2025, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that the Netherlands had handed over another batch of F-16 fighters to Ukraine, and they would soon be performing combat tasks. On the same day, it became known that the first Mirage 2000-5 fighters from France arrived in Ukraine.