---
title: "Belgium Promises to Transfer 10 F-16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine by Late 2026"
description: "Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced the transfer of ten F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026. Delivery timelines have shifted due to F-35 delays, and the status of previously transferred aircraft remains in question."
date: 2026-10-17T03:43:30.142Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/belgium-10-f16-ukraine-2026
tags: [f-16, belgium, ukraine, f-35, military-aid, de-wever]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Belgium Promises to Transfer 10 F-16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine by Late 2026

![Pilot inside the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet on an airfield runway](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/17/belgiya-10-f16-ukraina-2026/belgiya-10-f16-ukraina-2026-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Belgium promises to transfer 10 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026
- The delivery schedule shifted due to delays with F-35 supplies; initially, 30 jets were planned by 2028
- Ammunition from FN Herstal was also discussed at the meeting
- According to VRT, four previously formally transferred F-16s remain in Belgium and are not combat-ready

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has announced that his country will transfer ten F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026. The statement followed a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels, as reported by RBC-Ukraine and the Belgian agency Belga.

### Meeting Context

According to De Wever, Kyiv needs combat-ready fighter jets to defend against Russian strike drones. “Ukraine urgently needs combat-ready fighter jets, and we can make our contribution,” the Belgian Prime Minister emphasized. He noted that the issue of F-16 aircraft was “obviously” discussed during the bilateral meeting, but did not disclose other details of the conversation.

### Why the Timeline Shifted

Belgium is transferring its aging fleet of F-16s to Ukraine as these aircraft are replaced by new F-35 fighters. Initially, the plan was to supply 30 jets by 2028, but the schedule directly depends on the pace of F-35 deliveries. “We have fallen slightly behind due to longer delays related to the F-35. We will deliver 10 this year,” De Wever specified.

### Ammunition and EU Support

Ammunition for the F-16s, produced by the Belgian company FN Herstal, was discussed separately at the meeting. De Wever also voiced his support for Kyiv and noted that, in his view, the EU should continue helping Ukraine, adding that he is ready to discuss this matter at the bloc level.

### Discrepancies in Aircraft Status Assessment

At the same time, Belgian public broadcaster VRT previously reported that four fighter jets formally transferred to the Ukrainian side actually remain in Belgian hangars and, due to wear and tear, are suitable at best for spare parts. According to media reports, delivery dates have been postponed repeatedly: as early as May 2024, authorities promised to begin the transfer by the end of that same year.

### What's Next

It was previously reported that Belgium plans to soon finalize the agreement to transfer three more F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which requires approval from France. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, noted that the supplied aviation helps the country combat jet-powered Shahed drones.

## Accounts differ

### Actual status of previously transferred F-16 fighter jets

- **Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:** Belgium will transfer ten F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this year; the schedule shifted due to delays in F-35 deliveries ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/belgiya-obitsyae-tsogorich-peredati-ukrayini-1792178319.html))
- **Belgian public broadcaster VRT:** Four previously formally transferred aircraft are still located in Belgian hangars and, due to wear and tear, are suitable at best for spare parts ([news.mail.ru](https://news.mail.ru/politics/72742637/))

*Where they agree:* Belgium's formal obligation to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and the fact of De Wever's meeting with Zelenskyy are recognized by both sides

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Бельгия обещает передать Украине в этом году 10 истребителей F-16](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/belgiya-obitsyae-tsogorich-peredati-ukrayini-1792178319.html) - Primary source: De Wever's statement on 10 F-16s this year, 30 by 2028, FN Herstal ammunition, EU support.
- [СМИ: Бельгия третий год обещает Киеву F-16](https://news.mail.ru/politics/72742637/) - Belga/VRT: Confirms De Wever's statement, but adds that 4 previously transferred F-16s remain in Belgium and are not combat-ready; deadlines were postponed from 2024.
- [Бельгия обязалась передать Украине 30 истребителей F-16 до 2028 года](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B0/20240528-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%8F%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B5-30-%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B9-f-16-%D0%B4%D0%BE-2028-%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0) - Historical context: Initial commitment of 30 F-16s by 2028 (May 2024, under De Croo).

## FAQ

### How many F-16 fighter jets does Belgium promise to transfer to Ukraine in 2026?

Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced the transfer of ten F-16 fighter jets by the end of 2026.

### Why is the F-16 delivery delayed?

According to De Wever, the schedule shifted due to longer delays in the delivery of new F-35 fighter jets, to which Belgium is transitioning its fleet.

### What is being said about the previously transferred aircraft?

Belgian broadcaster VRT reported that four formally transferred F-16s actually remain in Belgian hangars and, due to wear and tear, are suitable at best for spare parts.