Oslo, Norway — April 14, 2026 : Norway has not delivered any of the six F-16 Fighting Falcon jets it pledged to Ukraine, according to the latest available information as of April 2026. All aircraft remain in Belgium undergoing preparation, and under current estimates, deliveries are not expected before spring 2027.
Background and Transfer Timeline
Norway first announced in August 2023 that it would supply at least six F-16 multirole fighters to Ukraine as part of a broader international coalition. Early projections indicated that deliveries could begin in 2024, with subsequent official statements suggesting completion by the end of 2025. Ownership of the aircraft was formally transferred to Ukraine between 2024 and 2025, though physical delivery has not taken place.
Current Location and Aircraft Condition
All six aircraft are currently located at the Sabena Engineering maintenance facility in Belgium. The fleet consists of two aircraft previously used for pilot training in Denmark and four aircraft that were not flight-ready at the time of transfer.
The two training aircraft have been at the Belgian facility for more than a year undergoing required repairs and overhaul. The remaining four jets were dismantled in Norway, packed into crates, and transported by cargo aircraft from Bodø in April 2025. Each of these four airframes is reported to be missing approximately 100 components.
None of the six aircraft are currently combat-ready. Sources indicate that refurbishment and reassembly work on the four dismantled jets has not yet begun, despite their arrival roughly one year ago.
Maintenance Constraints and Delays
The primary factor behind the delay is limited capacity at the Sabena Engineering facility, which is responsible for servicing and preparing multiple F-16 aircraft, including those already in Ukrainian service. This constraint has slowed both the overhaul of the two training jets and the planned reassembly of the four crated aircraft.
Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik confirmed that the aircraft are undergoing preparation in Belgium and stated that Ukraine, in coordination with donor countries, determines prioritization of work at the facility.
Under an optimistic scenario in which refurbishment begins promptly and takes approximately one year, the aircraft could be delivered to Ukraine by spring 2027. Preparations related to the transfer have been ongoing for about two and a half years.
Domestic and Political Context
The delay has drawn attention within Norway due to earlier public messaging suggesting that deliveries were progressing on schedule. Peter Frølich, head of the Norwegian parliamentary defence committee, noted that there had been a general perception that the aircraft were already operational in Ukraine.
Records also indicate that Norway previously sold 32 of its most operational F-16 aircraft, along with key spare parts, to Romania. As a result, the aircraft allocated for Ukraine were in comparatively lower readiness states, contributing to the current refurbishment requirements.
Wider F-16 Coalition Developments
Norway’s delayed transfer reflects broader challenges within the multinational fighter coalition established in 2023. Norway and Belgium together account for 36 delayed aircraft out of a total of 79 pledged.
Belgium has committed 30 F-16s but has not delivered any so far, citing delays in receiving replacement F-35 Lightning II aircraft needed to maintain its own fleet readiness.
In contrast, the Netherlands and Denmark have supplied operational aircraft to Ukraine. The Netherlands has delivered all 24 of its pledged jets, while Denmark has delivered the majority of its 19 aircraft.
As of April 2026, the Ukrainian Air Force operates an estimated fleet of up to 39 F-16s, all sourced from Dutch and Danish contributions, with adjustments accounting for reported combat losses.
Additional Support Measures
In parallel with aircraft commitments, Norway has provided support to Ukraine’s air capabilities through procurement of F-16 ammunition and air-defence systems via the JUMPSTART mechanism.
No updated delivery schedule has been announced by Norwegian authorities beyond the current estimate pointing to potential delivery in spring 2027.
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