Belgium to hand over three F-16s to Ukraine by end of year

Belgium will send Ukraine three Lockheed Martin F-16s before the end of the year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X on 29 September. Ukraine has also received F-16 ammunition from Belgium and other countries, Spain among them, Zelensky said.

The announcement followed another night of Russian strikes with the Geran-4 one-way attack drone. Ukraine's military told the BBC that jet-powered drone attacks rose from 350 in June to 1,600 in July and 2,800 in August, with 3,177 reported in September.

The Geran-4 is a more advanced version of Iran's Shahed design. It flies higher and faster than the propeller-driven Shahed 136, making it harder for Ukrainian air defences to intercept. Reports have said the drone uses Chinese jet engines.

Earlier F-16 donations came from several NATO states. Norway committed six aircraft strictly for a pilot training programme, Denmark pledged 19 and the Netherlands 24.

France has promised six Dassault Mirage 2000-5F fighters. One was lost to a technical equipment malfunction in July 2025, leaving one still to be delivered. Sweden will also provide Saab Gripen C/D aircraft to the Ukrainian air force as part of a wider package that includes the sale of E-model fighters.