US Air Force Reportedly Transfers Non-Operational F-16 Jets to Ukraine for Spare Parts

The US is providing Ukraine with decommissioned, non-operational F-16 fighter jets to help sustain its growing fleet of European-donated aircraft now engaged in combat operations against Russian forces, The War Zone (TWZ) reported on May 1.

The transfer was confirmed by the US Air Force following the appearance of photos showing dismantled F-16s being loaded onto a Ukrainian-chartered Antonov An-124 cargo plane in Arizona.

A US Air Force spokesperson stated that these retired aircraft, which are no longer flyable, were made available specifically to be used for spare parts.

“The Department of the Air Force has supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s for parts,” the spokesperson noted. “These aircraft were retired from active US use and are not flyable. Importantly, they lack critical components such as engines and radars and cannot be restored to operational condition.”

Photos shared on social media last week showed at least three F-16 airframes—wrapped and stripped of wings, tails, engines, and radomes—being loaded onto an Antonov Airlines An-124 at Tucson International Airport. The airport is located near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, home to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309th AMARG), commonly referred to as the US military’s aircraft boneyard.

According to TWZ, flight-tracking data confirmed that the An-124, tail number UR-82027, landed in Tucson on April 25 and departed the following day, en route to Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland. This airport has played a central role as a transit point for Western military assistance heading to Ukraine.

Although there was initial speculation that the aircraft might be intended for Poland—also an F-16 operator—the US Air Force clarified that the delivery was meant to support Ukrainian operations. Poland’s fleet consists of newer Block 52+ F-16C/D models, while Ukraine is receiving older A/B variants.

While the exact type of airframes involved in this transfer has not been officially confirmed, visual details such as the presence of “bird-slicer” IFF antennas suggest they may be Block 15 Air Defense Fighter (ADF) models previously used by the Air National Guard. The US Air Force declined to disclose the number or identities of the aircraft involved.

TWZ highlights that most F-16s still in usable condition have already been reassigned—some transferred to the US Navy for adversary training, others converted into QF-16 full-scale aerial targets. A number have also been supplied to US allies, while the Air Force is investing in life-extension programs for newer F-16 variants still in service.

As of late 2023, the US military’s aircraft boneyard held 150 F-16A, 27 F-16B, 143 F-16C, and 22 F-16D aircraft, many of which are no longer suitable for flight.

Previously, it was reported that one of the first recorded instances of a Ukrainian-operated F-16 fighter jet engaging an aerial target surfaced online.

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