Ukraine is struggling to keep enough of its F-16 fighters available for combat as intensive operations consume the remaining life of the aging aircraft and increase demand for maintenance and spare parts.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this month that around half of Ukraine's F-16s were spending extended periods in Europe for repairs and maintenance. Kyiv now wants more of this work performed inside Ukraine to reduce the time aircraft remain unavailable.
The problem has fueled reports that the Ukrainian F-16 fleet could face a severe readiness crisis. Ukrainian officials dispute that assessment but acknowledge difficulties obtaining components for older variants of the fighter, including parts that are no longer manufactured.
Ukraine's F-16s are flying frequently as part of the country's air defense system, intercepting Russian cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Yurii Cherevashchenko said this month that the intensive use is rapidly consuming the aircraft's service life.
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The fighters donated by European countries were already decades old when transferred to Ukraine. Most came from fleets being retired as their operators transitioned to the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter.
How many F-16s does Ukraine have?
The Netherlands donated 24 F-16s and Denmark another 19. Norway transferred six, although it later disclosed that only two could be prepared relatively quickly for operational use and the remaining four required more extensive work.
That puts the number transferred to Ukrainian ownership by the three countries at 49 aircraft, although the number actually available for combat is considerably smaller. Ukraine has also lost several F-16s since the fighter entered service in August 2024.
Belgium is preparing additional aircraft as it replaces its F-16s with F-35s, but deliveries are being phased.
The challenge is therefore no longer simply obtaining more fighters. Every additional F-16 also requires technicians, engines, components and periodic inspections, while aircraft already in Ukraine continue accumulating flight hours.
For a fleet assembled from aircraft retired by several European air forces, keeping those fighters available is becoming as important as securing additional F-16s.
