A Belgian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet in flight at the Sanicole Airshow in September 2024. Belgium is planning to donate 52 F-16s to Ukraine as its newer F-35s enter service. (Shutterstock/Victor Maschek)

Donated European F-16s Could Take Years to Reach Ukraine

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Though Belgium’s promise of F-16s to Ukraine has been delayed, Brussels has nearly doubled the size of the F-16 tranche that Kyiv will eventually receive.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian government requested—and received—several tranches of F-16 Fighting Falcons from the United States and its NATO allies. In addition to US F-16s, a group of NATO members have pledged to independently supply Kyiv with the American-made jets. However, two years after the United States approved the transfer, Ukraine continues to wait for the majority of the aircraft to arrive. 

There have been repeated delays in the aircraft actually reaching the embattled Ukraine, with only a portion of the F-16s pledged by Denmark and the Netherlands sent to date.........

© The National Interest