Belgium to send three F-16 jets to Ukraine by end of 2026

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Belgium will transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026. He thanked Belgium and Prime Minister Bart De Wever for "decisive steps to support Ukraine in response to Russia's callous strikes against life." "As Russia escalates its attacks every day, we need to add more capabilities to shoot down aerial targets and protect people," Zelensky said. He said Ukraine will work to receive the aircraft through an accelerated procedure and has already received urgent F-16 ammunition from Belgium and Spain. RBC-Ukraine reports Belgium will provide seven F-16s total by the end of 2026—three operational and four for spare parts. Ukraine received its first F-16s in 2024 after an 18-month international effort. Euromaidan Press reports that in one January 2025 mission a Ukrainian F-16 pilot shot down six Russian cruise missiles. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense received its first mobile F-16 pilot-training simulators in April. On July 13, Mykhailo Fedorov said, "F-16 aircraft is one of the most effective means to intercept air targets."