Belgium will transfer three operational F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026, with the aircraft to move under an accelerated procedure following an agreement confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The deal would provide Kyiv with its first Belgian F-16s at a time when Russia is intensifying aerial attacks and Ukraine is seeking additional air-defence capacity.
The jets are understood to be F-16AM/BM aircraft drawn from Belgium’s ageing fleet as the country prepares to transition to the F-35A. Belgium has long planned to pass on its F-16s to Ukraine, but the latest commitment fixes the first delivery at three flyable aircraft rather than a broader general pledge.
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine has already received urgent shipments of F-16 ammunition from Belgium and other partners, including Spain. Earlier Belgian planning had pointed to a larger handover schedule over several years, with some aircraft earmarked for spare parts, but the public confirmation is strongest on the initial three jets due by year-end.