Media: Ukraine To Receive Dozens Of F-16 Fighter Jets From Belgium

What is known.

Ukraine will receive additional F-16s from Belgium, and the first fifth-generation F-35 fighters have already begun arriving in the country to replace them.

This is reported by Defense Express.

The new F-35s, which Belgium has been waiting seven years for, have already arrived at Floren airbase, where they will later enter service with the 1st Squadron. They should be ready for rapid response operations by 2027.

At the same time, Belgium will keep its F-16s until 2028, when they will be completely replaced by fifth-generation fighters.

The older fighters will be gradually withdrawn from the country's air force, after which they will be sent to Ukraine.

The order to supply Belgium with F-35s is being fulfilled by the U.S. Lockheed Martin. According to the initial agreements, the first fighters were to arrive in 2023, but they were ready in 2024 and were used for pilot training in the U.S.

The first F-35, intended for transfer to Belgium, was released from the factory only in early June this year with the number FL009. The first batch to be transferred to the Belgians consists of four aircraft.

The publication suggests that this will allow the first Belgian F-16s to be sent to Ukraine in 2026. This will strengthen the Ukrainian fleet and provide the defenders with additional sorties.

Belgium has ordered a total of 34 F-35As - the contract was signed seven years ago, in October 2018. The country recently decided that this would not be enough and plans to order an additional 11 units.

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