Belgium will not be able to fulfill the obligation to transfer to Ukraine the first F-16 aircraft by the end of this year. This became known from the message of the LE SOIR , which refers to the statement of the Ministry of Defense of Belgium. The main reason for the delay is the insufficient number of prepared Ukrainian pilots to control new fighter jets, as well as problems with providing the necessary spare parts for equipment.
The Belgian side also pointed to the breakdown of the latest F-35 aircraft from the US company Lockheed Martin, which further complicates the situation. Due to these factors, the supply of the F-16 promised fighters for Ukraine is delayed, and the terms of their transfer can be postponed at the beginning of 2025.
This delay is an important event in the context of military assistance to Ukraine because the F-16 is one of the most expected types of equipment to strengthen the Aviation Opportunities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.
