Belgium increases number of F-16 fighter jets to be transferred to Ukraine to ten

Update on aviation support plans

Belgium intends to transfer ten F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine during the current year. This was announced by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, commenting on the results of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place on the sidelines of the European Union summit in Brussels.

Reasons for changing the schedule and quantity

As the Belgian leader noted, the planning to transfer ten aircraft instead of previously discussed smaller volumes became possible due to the gradual introduction of the latest F-35 fighter jets into service. De Wever explained that the country is obliged to fulfil its commitments to NATO and therefore requires the replacement of older equipment.

«Ми передамо десять цього року. У нас є невелика затримка, але не з нашої вини, а через затримку з постачанням F-35. Ми повинні мати можливість виконувати свої зобов’язання перед НАТО, тому нам потрібні літаки. Зараз F-35 починають надходити, і це дає нам можливість передавати F-16 Україні» (We will transfer ten this year. We have a slight delay, but not through our fault, but due to a delay in the supply of F-35s. We must be able to fulfil our commitments to NATO, so we need aircraft. Now F-35s are starting to arrive, and this gives us the opportunity to transfer F-16s to Ukraine), said De Wever.

Tactical necessity for air defence

The Prime Minister emphasised Ukraine's urgent need for these fighter jets, particularly for countering Russian jet-powered drones. In his view, it was these drones that gave Moscow the advantage in the "drone war", while the F-16, equipped with a 20-millimetre cannon, is one of the few means that effectively protects against such a threat.

«Реактивні безпілотники, які тепер має Росія, надали їй перевагу у війні дронів. А F-16 із його 20-міліметровою гарматою – один із небагатьох видів озброєння, який можна широко використовувати для захисту від них» (The jet-powered drones that Russia now has have given it an advantage in the drone war. And the F-16 with its 20-millimetre cannon is one of the few types of weapons that can be widely used for protection against them), explained the Belgian Prime Minister.

In addition, according to De Wever, air cover is critically important for ensuring the safety of grain exports via the Black Sea, as well as for protecting energy infrastructure and urban agglomerations.

Cooperation with FN Herstal

During his conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bart De Wever discussed the possibility of accelerating supplies and transferring 20-millimetre ammunition produced by the Belgian company FN Herstal.

«Ми можемо йому допомогти. Ми маємо таку можливість. Зокрема, можемо допомогти з 20-міліметровими боєприпасами» (We can help him. We have that opportunity. In particular, we can help with 20-millimetre ammunition), he noted.

Context of previous agreements

As early as June, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken reported that by the end of 2026, the country would transfer seven F-16s to Ukraine. It was then noted that three of them were intended for combat flights, while four were to be used as a source of spare parts. Prime Minister Bart De Wever did not specify how the ten promised aircraft would be allocated between combat inventory and equipment for spare parts.