“Ukraine should receive ‘full capabilities’ of the air defense system based on F-16 fighters ‘in the coming months and years,’ Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels.”
“In the coming months and years, Ukraine should receive the full capabilities of the air defense system based on F-16 aircraft provided by the Western coalition,” he said, emphasizing that Belgium “will strive” to transfer “at least several” out of the promised 30 F-16s to Kyiv by the end of 2024. He also emphasized that the use of Belgian aircraft would be permitted only over Ukrainian territory.”
The Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib was more specific on the supply schedule for F-16s to Ukraine.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib provided a more specific timeline, stating that Belgium promises to send thirty F-16 fighter planes to Ukraine by 2028, with the first aircraft potentially arriving by the end of 2024.
Media sources earlier in May said that Ukraine would get the first F-16 fighter jet in either June or July. Russian President Vladimir Putin clarified in a March conference with military pilots that the F-16 delivery would not alter the state of affairs on the battlefield. Moscow underlined that, given their dual-use character, the jets would be considered nuclear-capable assets. On May 26, Moscow targeted a military facility already under construction for Western F-16 fighter planes.
The Russian Ministry of Defense officials believe the air defense will require roughly twenty days to down the first batch of F-16 fighter planes.
