Belgium delays F-16 fighter jet delivery to Ukraine by year

He made this statement before the start of an extraordinary EU summit in Brussels, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.

“We will deliver the F-16s. There is a delay due to issues with the supply of F-35s caused by technical problems, which has pushed the timeline back a bit,” the Belgian Prime Minister said.

He denied reports that Belgium would be unable to deliver the fighter jets until 2028, clarifying that this year, F-16s would likely be transferred for spare parts, while operational aircraft are expected to arrive in Ukraine around 2026.

“We will do this as quickly as possible. We are already training pilots. There are also mechanics. We will provide spare parts. And I do not rule out that F-16s will go to Ukraine this year, but more likely for spare parts. However, next year, we will also deliver aircraft that will be ready for operation,” he concluded.

• Meanwhile, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that as of February 25, Ukraine had already received 12 out of the 19 promised F-16 fighter jets from Denmark, with the remaining ones expected to be delivered this year.