Belgium’s 10 F-16s bring Ukraine’s promised fleet to about 100 jets. Fewer than 40 are flying, as Russia’s jet drones run them ragged
The rest arrive in batches through 2029, and every sortie against Russia's jet drones brings the jets already in Ukraine closer to long inspections abroad.
Belgium is accelerating the delivery of surplus Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to Ukraine, with 10 planes expected by the end of 2026. However, not all of these planes will be in flyable condition. The Ukrainian air force currently has fewer than 40 flyable F-16s, as the remaining planes are often grounded due to maintenance demands, pilot availability, and munitions shortages.
The F-16s regularly face Russian jet drones and cruise missiles, making them crucial assets in the conflict. Despite the European nations donating a total of 53 F-16s, Ukraine currently possesses about 100 F-16s overall, including the F-16s provided by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. However, many of these planes are in poor condition due to constant usage and require significant maintenance.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
