The Belgian Ministry of Defence announces delays in delivering 30 legacy F-16 fighters to Ukraine, coinciding with the Air Force’s acquisition of F-35s.
- The United States has engaged Sabena Aerospace Engineering for the maintenance of legacy F-16s designated for Ukraine.
- The maintenance operations will be conducted at their facility located in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium.
- These aircraft are sourced from various European fleets, including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway.
The US Department of Defence (DoD) has enlisted Belgian engineering firm Sabena Aerospace to undertake engine upkeep and material management for Europe’s legacy F-16s, set to bolster the Ukrainian Air Force.
Sabena will provide comprehensive support at its Brussels facility for a minimum duration of three years, as stipulated in the contract dated January 29, 2026.
To date, the DoD has allocated nearly $70 million out of an overall budget of $235 million for this initiative.
This partnership involves both what the DoD designates as “intermediate” level maintenance, along with more sophisticated “depot level” maintenance.
Both categories necessitate intricate support services that extend beyond the capabilities of typical Air Force engineering units, despite Ukraine’s familiarity with the Fighting Falcon, which entered service in August 2024.
Sabena boasts a longstanding history, having supported the Belgian Air Force for half a century, also servicing a wide range of aircraft, including A400M, C-130, Alphajet, A109, Mirage, and A10.
Plans are also underway to facilitate roles in the next-generation European fleet comprising F-35 and Skyguardian tactical uncrewed aerial systems.
Responding to inquiries from Air Force Technology, Sabena refrained from commenting on details related to its recent F-16 contract.
European F-16 Contributions
As European nations enhance their aerial combat capabilities with the introduction of the multirole F-35 Lightning II, several air forces are stepping up to donate legacy F-16s to Ukraine.
Belgium has pledged to supply 30 aircraft, alongside contributions of 19 from Denmark, 24 from the Netherlands, and 14 from Norway. This influx of aircraft signifies an intensified commitment to supporting Ukraine, as it demonstrates the robustness of US airborne power.
The enduring relevance of these aircraft remains pronounced: former Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal previously prioritized their procurement alongside surface-to-air defense systems during discussions with European allies at the Ramstein summit last October.
Later in December, Shmyhal announced that F-16s had successfully intercepted and neutralized the majority of 35 Russian cruise missiles in a significant assault just prior to the holiday season.
Anticipated Aircraft Deliveries: Mirage and Gripen
Ukraine is also poised to receive additional aircraft, including French Mirage-2000s and a minimum of 100 Swedish Gripen fighters, which the current Defence Minister Mykhailo Federov believes will considerably enhance the nation’s aerial capabilities.
In this context, Federov has even proposed the localization of British-manufactured Gripen components within Ukraine. As indicated by Saab, the original equipment manufacturer, approximately 35% of Gripen’s parts originate from the UK.
The upcoming array of jets is expected to provide Ukraine with versatile combat options, from the Fighting Falcon’s flexibility and payload capacity to the Mirage’s swift interception and Gripen’s agility and straightforward maintenance.
This diversified fleet aims to better mitigate Russian air and missile defense systems, while simultaneously bridging the gap with the combat air capabilities of the VKS in both quantitative and qualitative terms.
Source link: Airforce-technology.com.
