Zelensky: Belgium to transfer three F-16s to Ukraine by end of year

Belgium plans to transfer three F-16 fighters to Ukraine by the end of 2026, which will be used for combat missions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on X.

According to Zelensky, a corresponding agreement has been reached with the Belgian side. The delivery of the aircraft is to take place by the end of this year.

This is part of a broader program of transferring Belgian F-16s to Ukraine. Earlier, Belgium announced that it would provide Kyiv with seven such aircraft during 2026: three are intended directly for combat use, and four more for use as a source of spare parts.

This plan was also previously confirmed by the Office of the President of Ukraine. Thus, Zelensky's current statement confirms the timeline for the transfer of three combat-capable aircraft.

The schedule for the transfer of Belgian F-16s is linked to the country's air force transitioning to new F-35 fighters. As these aircraft arrive, Belgium is gradually retiring its fleet of F-16s, part of which is destined for Ukraine.

At the end of September, three more new F-35A aircraft arrived in Belgium. This increased the number of such aircraft located directly in the country to seven and allowed the process of retiring F-16s to continue.

Belgium also continues to participate in the international aviation coalition, which provides training for Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel, as well as maintenance and transfer of aircraft.