F-16 for Ukraine: Belgium will hand over the fighters, but there is a condition

Belgium plans to transfer F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine only after it receives and puts its own F-35 fighters into operation.

This was stated by Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken during a speech on October 21 at the European Policy Center (EPC) forum in Brussels, a Radio Liberty correspondent reports.

“We continue to receive deliveries on schedule: the first three F-35s have already arrived. Now they should become operational – I think it will take a year or a year and a half. When we get full capability, we will transfer our F-16s to Ukraine,” he said.

Franken stressed that the transition to the F-35 is a “very important phase” for the Belgian Air Force and is directly linked to the transfers to Ukraine. He also recalled that Belgium participates in NATO’s nuclear deterrence and that its air capabilities (Defensive Counter Air) are of strategic importance.

Belgium is part of a coalition of countries preparing to transfer F-16s to Ukraine. However, according to the government, the transfer is linked to the schedule for receiving its own F-35s and is tentatively expected in 2026. Earlier, there were reports of delays in the delivery of F-35s to Belgium due to delays from the United States.

As a reminder, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken previously stated that Ukraine would receive all the F-16 fighters promised by Belgium, but their transfer depends on the training of Ukrainian pilots and the completion of technical procedures.

As reported, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said that the country was to receive the first four F-35 fighters from the United States on October 13. This delivery is of strategic importance not only for Brussels, but also for Ukraine – it is the renewal of the Belgian air fleet that paves the way for the transfer of F-16 combat aircraft to Kyiv.

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