Belgium urged to speed up delayed F‑16 delivery to Ukraine
On Tuesday, January 21, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives hosted a delegation from Kyiv, which requested an expedited shipment of F-16s from Belgium to Ukraine.
Last year's decision by the Belgian government stipulated that Ukraine would receive 30 used F-16 fighter jets. Initially, the first units were planned for delivery by the end of the previous year, but the implementation of these plans encountered problems, leading to a delay in the transfer.
Ukraine demands the promised F-16s
Issues arose, in part, due to a lack of spare parts and delays in the delivery of new F-35 fighter jets, which are intended to replace the F-16s in the Belgian Air Force.
"We do not have the luxury of waiting to strengthen our air defenses," said Oleksandr Kornienko, head of the Ukrainian delegation.
"Your prime minister promised us that some aircraft could be delivered before the end of 2024. So far we have not received them," added another representative of the Ukrainian delegation, Yehor Cherniev.
F-16 a significant reinforcement for Ukrainian air forces
Western allies have committed to providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets in modified F-16A/B MLU (Mid-Life Update from the 1990s) variants. These aircraft are equipped with enhanced radars and are adapted to work with a wider range of armaments, including AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with a range of about 62 miles. However, the aircraft have undergone changes involving the removal of equipment reserved for NATO countries. As a result, they do not have systems like the Link-16 tactical information system, which some Ukrainian experts criticize.
Currently, the F-16 fighter jets that have already arrived in Ukraine are mainly used to supplement the country's air defense. Pilots use them to intercept drones and cruise missiles. There have also been reports of successful engagements with Russian planes, such as a Su-34 bomber.
During his speech in Davos, also on January 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of investing in European defense, adding that without it, the world might move forward without Europe's involvement.
