According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Belgium is set to deliver the first three of the promised F-16 fighter jets this year. This will be the first delivery of these fighter jets from Belgium, which has pledged to transfer its entire fleet of 53 F-16s as they are replaced with new F-35 fighter jets.
However, it turned out that Ukraine is facing serious challenges in maintaining its F-16 fighter jets. Overall, fewer than 50% of all the F-16s delivered may currently be in operational condition, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Read more: Ukraine to Receive Three Belgian F-16 Jets by End of 2026 Under Accelerated Procedure
It is reported that the alleged cause of this problem is the extremely lengthy maintenance process, which is being handled by Belgian company Sabena under a $235.5 million contract with the U.S. (This likely refers to a contract concluded as part of the aid package provided in 2024.)
Maintenance on F-16s in the U.S. typically takes between two and six weeks. In Belgium, however, the process reportedly takes as long as 40 weeks (more than nine months)—roughly six to 20 times longer than in the U.S. As a result, Ukrainian F-16s simply cannot keep up with the maintenance demand as more aircraft join the queue.
Therefore, the transfer of three additional F-16 fighter jets would not make much sense until the issue with maintenance schedules is resolved. The issue may stem from the company's lengthy maintenance backlog, limited capacity, or logistical constraints. It is also worth noting that the Ukrainian military is receiving older aircraft, which may require additional maintenance and have spare parts that are more difficult to obtain.
It is crucial for Ukraine to keep as many F-16 fighter jets operational as possible, as they are a vital part of the country's air defense. They are particularly effective against jet-powered drones and cruise missiles.
Consequently, F-16 maintenance problems are affecting not only the number of combat missions on the front lines but also the effectiveness of Ukraine's air defense.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Ukrainian F-16s have shot down more than 3,150 airborne threats in total, including 666 cruise missiles and more than 2,500 drones of various types. In addition, F-16s have carried out 650 airstrikes against russian ground targets.
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