Ukraine not received yet any of six F-16s promised by Norway, they are "stuck" for repairs in Belgium - media

Ukraine has not yet received any of the six F-16 fighters promised by Norway back in August 2023, all of which are currently undergoing repair and modernization in Belgium at Sabena Engineering. This is reported by NRK.

Two aircraft that were previously used to train Ukrainian pilots in Denmark have been in the workshops for over a year. The remaining four units were shipped from Norway in a disassembled state in April 2025, as they were not airworthy.

"The four planes that were delivered in crates to Sabena in Belgium are missing about 100 parts each. Therefore, it will take a lot of time to assemble them," said a consultant to the Ukrainian army on condition of anonymity.

The delay is due to the limited capacity of the Belgian company. Experts estimate that the preparation of the aircraft may take about another year. The chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Peter Froehlich, called the delay a "scandal" and said that most Norwegians were sure that the planes were already protecting Ukraine's skies. He also suggested that the reason could be insufficient control by the government.

Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik confirmed the situation, noting that Ukraine independently determines the priority of work: whether to prepare new aircraft or repair those already involved in combat operations.

It also turned out that 32 of Norway's best F-16s were sold to Romania, and Ukraine decided to give the planes that needed major overhaul as "better than nothing." Maintenance in Belgium was chosen because Norwegian facilities were fully loaded with Romanian orders. Experts estimate that the preparation of the aircraft may take about another year.