Belgium and Ukraine in talks about F-16 fighter jet supply and pilot training

Ukraine's Minister of Defense, Rustem Umierov, met with Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder to discuss the transfer of F-16 jets to Ukraine and the training of pilots. 

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Belgium confirmed its intention to hand over F-16 jets to Ukraine in 2025, Rubryka reports.

"We highly appreciate your unwavering support and comprehensive participation in strengthening the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," said Umierov during the meeting with Dedonder.

The Ukrainian defense minister stressed the need to initiate the process of establishing supply chains for ammunition, spare parts, and technical equipment for the F-16.

Р

Earlier, Umierov discussed plans for developing a bilateral partnership and the possibility of hosting representatives of the Belgian defense-industrial complex in Ukraine early next year with Dedonder.

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the total amount of technical assistance from the Kingdom of Belgium to the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of December of this year has reached over €320 million.

As reported, in January of last year, Belgium approved €90 million in assistance, including missiles and small arms.

On June 16, the Council of Ministers of Belgium approved the fifteenth package of military aid for Ukraine. Belgium also purchased Sea Sparrow missiles for Ukraine.

What we know about Ukrainian pilot training on Western F-16 fighter jets

The issue of providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets was discussed within the framework of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group ("Ramstein" format) in June.

Afterward, it became known that partners of Ukraine plan to approve a training program for Ukrainian pilots, engineers, and technicians on F-16s by July, with the training taking place in a specially created center in one of the European countries.

According to Politico, the transfer of Western F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine may take place in early 2024.

Earlier, the prime ministers of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom agreed to work on forming an international coalition of fighter jets for Ukraine, with Denmark joining them.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that military training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on American F-16 fighter jets would begin in August.

By mid-September, the spokesperson for the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat, stated that the training process of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s had gained momentum.

At the end of September, the Air Forces released a video showing the adaptation of pilots to F-16s in Ukraine. They were mastering the control of American F-16 fighter jets using a flight simulator.