Belgium will provide Ukraine with seven F-16 fighter jets this year. Three of them will be fully combat-ready and capable of carrying out missions in Ukrainian airspace, while the other four will be used as sources of spare parts. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has announced this, according to European Pravda.
According to the head of the Belgian Defense Ministry, Brussels has decided to increase the volume of aviation aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces compared to previous plans. Initially, the country planned to transfer only four non-operational aircraft to be dismantled for spare parts between 2025 and 2026.
The minister emphasized that he considers it necessary to also provide Ukraine with operational aircraft, as these American fighter jets have already proven their high effectiveness in countering russian cruise missiles and Shahed-type attack drones.
Theo Francken also added that he plans to propose to the Belgian government that it transfer all of the country’s available F-16s to Ukraine over the next few years. However, the speed of this process will depend directly on the pace of deliveries to Belgium of the new fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, as the country must simultaneously fulfill its obligations under its nuclear doctrine and the defense of NATO’s shared airspace.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, Ukrainian pilots undergoing training in the United Kingdom are learning to fly aircraft in conditions where satellite navigation is completely unavailable.
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