This announcement marks a decisive shift in Belgium’s policy, as the government had previously refrained from making specific commitments regarding the number and timeline of the aircraft to be provided. The pledge will be formalized in an agreement to be signed today in Brussels during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Belgium joined the so-called F-16 Coalition last year, alongside the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway, collectively promising to provide several dozen combat aircraft to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Initially, Belgium focused on training and offering technical and logistical support. However, last autumn, the Belgian government committed to supplying a certain number of jets once it received its first F-35 fighters, which would free up the older F-16s for transfer.
The delivery of the Belgian aircraft to Ukraine will occur progressively until 2028. This phased approach is partly due to the current shortage of trained personnel within the Ukrainian Air Force capable of operating Western equipment.
