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Norway’s F-16 Jets Promised to Ukraine Are Still in Belgium as Delivery Faces Delays
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Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced the donation of six F-16 fighter jets in August 2023 during a visit to Kyiv. As of April 8, 2026, the aircraft remain in Belgium for repairs and have not yet been delivered to Ukraine, according to NRK.
Two of the Norwegian jets were previously used for training Ukrainian pilots in Denmark. These aircraft have now been at a Belgian facility for maintenance for over a year.
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Four additional planes were unable to fly and were transported to Belgium in pieces in April 2025. The primary reason for the delay is a significant lack of capacity at the facility responsible for preparing the aircraft.
The scale of the required work is extensive. Experts suggest that repairing the four disassembled planes could take another year. Each aircraft is reportedly missing about 100 parts, which makes the assembly process difficult.
While Norwegian authorities previously stated that all jets would be delivered by the end of 2025, various official statements made earlier gave the public impression that the planes were already in Ukraine.
The Commander of the Norwegian Armed Forces previously noted that F-16s from the Western coalition had become a vital part of Ukraine’s air defense. In January 2025, the Defense Minister claimed the first jet had been delivered and that the process was on schedule.
Defense Minister Tore Sandvik has now confirmed that the planes remain in Belgium. He also noted that 32 of Norway's best F-16s were sold to Romania rather than being sent to Ukraine.
The delay has caused a strong reaction within the Norwegian government. Peter Frølich, head of the parliamentary defense committee, expressed his frustration regarding the timeline. “It looks like a scandal. I'm really angry. Most people in Norway thought these planes were already flying and protecting Ukraine,” Frølich said.
This situation follows reports from Belgium indicating similar delays. The broadcaster VRT recently found that Belgium has not yet delivered any of the 30 F-16s it promised over the last two years. Belgian officials stated the delay is linked to the slow arrival of American F-35 jets intended to replace their aging fleet.
Since the new aircraft have not arrived from the United States, the transfer of F-16s to assist Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine remains stalled.
On January 29, 2026, the United States entered into a $235 million contract with Sabena Aerospace Engineering in Belgium to provide intermediate and depot-level maintenance for Ukraine’s F-16 fleet.
The agreement, which was scheduled to run until early 2029, focused on aircraft and engine repairs as well as material management support. Alongside this deal, President Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine and Czechia had begun collaborating to establish a joint pilot training facility outside of Ukraine to ensure the safety of the initiative during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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