The Belgian Ministry of Defense announced the expansion of the F-16 fighter jet transfer program to Ukraine. According to the plan, cited by Le Soir, Brussels will transfer to Kyiv not 30, as previously announced, but all 53 fighter jets currently in service with the Belgian Air Force. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2029. Belgium will continue to operate these aircraft until their phased transfer, and the Kingdom will retain only the newest F-35s.

The fighter jet delivery schedule provides for phased deliveries:

- 7 aircraft in 2026;

- 5 aircraft in 2027;

- 14 aircraft in 2028;

- 27 aircraft in 2029.

Thus, the total number of F-16 fighters that Belgium intends to transfer to Ukraine as part of military aid has increased from 30 to 53 units.

At the time of publication, no official confirmation was received from the Ukrainian or Belgian Ministry of Defense regarding the new number of aircraft.

As a reminder, it was previously reported that the first batch of Belgian F-16s would be delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2025, subject to the arrival of replacement F-35 aircraft.