Why hasn’t Belgium provided even a single F-16 fighter jet to Ukraine?
Author: Talib Aliyev, analyst, especially for Sangar.
Two years ago, Belgium pledged to provide Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets. Today, three years into the “fighter coalition,” not a single Belgian aircraft has arrived in the hands of the Ukrainian Air Force. The delay raises questions about the reliability of allies and the real scope of support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
Belgian officials cite “no fixed delivery dates” and the need to first meet their own operational requirements. Major General Gert De Decker of the Belgian Air Force explained that the F-16s will only be transferred after Belgium receives new F-35 jets to replace its aging fleet. “It was always clear that our own operational readiness must be guaranteed,” De Decker said.
Yet in 2024, former Prime Minister Alexander De Croo publicly promised that the first jets would be delivered before the year’s end. In 2025, Defense Minister Theo Francken assured that shipments would arrive “earlier than scheduled.” Despite these assurances, Belgium has yet to send a single F-16, while other coalition members have already fulfilled their commitments.
Pilot training is another complicating factor. Ukrainian pilots, trained on Soviet-era aircraft, face the challenge of mastering English, adapting to Western flight tactics, and learning the technical nuances of the F-16. Sources indicate that Kyiv even requested a temporary pause in deliveries because it lacked enough trained pilots to operate the jets.
Experts note that the combined effect of delays in Belgium’s F-35 acquisition and pilot training bottlenecks has created a chain reaction that effectively freezes the transfer of Belgian F-16s. The country plans to retire its entire F-16 fleet only by the end of 2028, with deliveries to Ukraine expected to be completed by 2029.
Despite the setbacks, Belgium continues to provide technical support for F-16s already delivered to Ukraine by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. Meanwhile, Kyiv is actively strengthening its air capabilities, viewing F-16s as a critical component of its future fleet alongside modern Gripen and Rafale fighters, which together could expand Ukraine’s combat aircraft by up to 250 units.
The Belgian F-16 situation highlights a sobering reality: even promises from allies can stretch into years of waiting. For Ukraine, the lesson is clear — reliance on external support must be paired with developing domestic capabilities, investing in pilot training, and diversifying sources of military aid.
