Belgium has yet to deliver any F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, despite three years of participation in a coalition aimed at providing military support. The Belgian government contends that it never committed to specific timelines for the transfer of these aircraft.
Since joining the coalition in 2020, Belgium has postponed the delivery of F-16s multiple times. Originally, the first Belgian jets were expected to arrive in Ukraine by 2023, but this has not materialized.
Officials from the Belgian government assert that no concrete deadlines for the transfer were ever established. A senior commander of the Belgian Air Force suggested that Ukraine had even requested a delay in deliveries due to a lack of trained pilots.
In 2024, then-Prime Minister Alexander De Croo indicated that the initial aircraft would reach Ukraine by the end of that year, as part of a commitment to supply 30 jets. However, other nations have since delivered their F-16s, leaving Belgium’s contributions unfulfilled.
In May 2025, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken stated that the aircraft would be delivered ahead of schedule. Nonetheless, there has been no progress in this regard.
The Belgian Ministry of Defense has cited delays in the procurement of new American F-35 jets as a primary reason for the hold-up in F-16 transfers. Belgium plans to replace its aging fleet of F-16s with F-35s, which have not yet been delivered.
General-major Gert De Decker explained that the operational needs of the Belgian Air Force must be prioritized before any transfers can occur. The complete phase-out of Belgium’s F-16 fleet is projected for the end of 2028, while the final delivery of F-35s is not expected until at least 2029.
Additionally, reports indicate that the training of Ukrainian pilots is lagging behind schedule. Unnamed sources from within the Ukrainian government have expressed concern that the pace of training is insufficient to prepare pilots in time for the expected deliveries.
Ukrainian officials have reportedly requested a delay in the transfer of F-16s until they can adequately train a sufficient number of pilots to operate the aircraft.
Belgium has not delivered any F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine after three years of participation in a coalition, citing delays in new aircraft procurement and pilot training issues. The Belgian government maintains that no specific timelines were promised for the transfers.