“We are even expanding the aid by providing them (the Ukrainians) with seven F-16 aircraft. So this year there will be seven F-16 aircraft, four of which will serve as a source of spare parts and three will be intended for operations in Ukrainian skies to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression,” the Ukrainian agency quoted Franken as saying.
The Belgian server Le Vif reported in the first half of May that Belgium will hand over 53 American F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Already then he informed that Ukraine should get seven machines this year. At that time, he was referring to the preliminary internal plan of the Belgian Ministry of Defense.
According to this document, Kyiv should receive five more aircraft next year, 14 in 2028 and the final 27 in 2029.
But as Franken reminded, Ukraine will get the fighters only after Brussels receives the ordered F-35 fighters. “It will depend on when the F-35 arrives,” he explained.
