Maintenance backlog in Belgium threatens Ukraine with loss of all F-16s by year-end

Risk of loss of air force combat readiness

Ukraine may lose the ability to use all its available F-16 fighters by the end of the current year. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing information from a source.

According to the journalists' data, over 50% of combat aircraft of this type in the service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are already awaiting scheduled maintenance. Experts note that if current rates of operation and repair are maintained, Kyiv may lose access to the remaining aircraft by the end of the year.

Difference in maintenance duration

F-16 fighters require inspection of main systems after approximately 300 flight hours. In the US, this procedure typically takes between two and six weeks.

However, the situation is different in Belgium, where maintenance is carried out on aircraft transferred to Ukraine. Here, repair timelines are significantly longer and can reach 40 weeks.

Source estimates

A source for The Wall Street Journal emphasises that it is precisely this discrepancy in maintenance duration that creates a critical situation. Under current operating conditions and repair queues in Belgium, Ukraine risks being left without a single F-16 fighter ready for combat use by the end of the year.