- WIADOMOŚCI
Why does Ukraine need old, Belgian F-16?
Belgium has recently revealed a plan of gradual provision of F-16AM/BM fighter aircraft to Ukraine. While at first it may seem long overdue, those aircraft will be of great significance to Kyiv in the medium term.
Photo. Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf (USAF)
According to Belga News Agency, Le Point and Le Vif, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has approved a revised plan of deliveries for F-16 fighter aircraft in Ukraine. The plan calls for delivery of seven aircraft this year, five in 2027, 14 in 2028 and 27 in 2029. In all, Kyiv is to receive more than 50 ex-Belgian jets, which are being replaced by F-35A in Belgian service. The pattern is similar to other European countries that had provided F-16s to Ukraine earlier, namely Netherlands and Denmark.
All of those countries, as well as Norway, which also decided to provide fighters to Ukraine but their status is unclear yet, did participate in multinational technology transfer project of F-16A/B to Europe during the Cold War, and now have decided to transfer their heavily upgraded F-16AM/BMs to Kyiv.
On the other hand, it is noticeable that while Ukraine received between 40 and 60 F-16s from Denmark, Netherlands and possibly Norway in 2024-2025, the Belgian jets will come later, even as Kyiv is seeking newly produced fighter aircraft such as Swedish Gripen and French Rafale.
However, the Belgian participation in the initiative is more important that it seems at the first glance. What Belgian F-16s will enable Ukraine is to maintain its F-16 fleet capability until the new generation fighter fleet arrives. Kyiv has lost several F-16s, and the rest are being used to a great extent particularly in cruise missile defence and strikes against Russian targets with glide bombs. This may consume their service life over time, similarly to the MiG-29 and Su-27 Ukraine has.
On the other hand, even if Ukraine manages to contract Gripen E and/or Rafale, they will not manage to obtain operational capability in large numbers before 2030. So there is a gap between existing Ukrainian fighters and the future aircraft. And it will precisely be the Belgian F-16s that can fill the gap. Especially as they can be integrated with new weapons, such as the already tested Belgian-made FZ275 missiles laser guided rockets which can supplement the US-made APKWS systems.
