None of six F-16 fighters promised by Norway arrived in Ukraine yet

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced during a visit to Kyiv in August 2023 that his country would deliver F-16 fighters to Ukraine. However, to date, none of the aircraft has been delivered to Ukrainian territory.

Source: NRK, as reported by European Pravda

Details: NRK obtained information from several sources speaking on condition of anonymity regarding the status of the F-16 jets gifted by Norway to Ukraine. Of the six F-16s promised, not a single one has yet been delivered to Ukraine.

Two of the six jets were previously used to train Ukrainian pilots in Denmark, but are currently under maintenance in Belgium. They are reported to have been there for over a year.

The other four F-16s were not flight-ready when shipped from Norway. They were sent in parts by transport aircraft in April 2025, packed in crates. All remain at the same Sabena workshop in Belgium.

NRK understands there are significant capacity issues at the Sabena workshop for servicing and preparing F-16s. This is the main reason why Norway's jets have not yet reached Ukraine.

The work required on the four crated jets is extensive. Preparing them could take around a year if Sabena starts work now.

"Each of the four aircraft delivered in crates to Sabena in Belgium is missing roughly 100 parts. Assembling them will take a lot of time," a Ukrainian army consultant told NRK on condition of anonymity.

Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik confirmed the jets are still at the Belgian workshop.

"At present, the aircraft are undergoing preparation at Sabena in Belgium. Ukraine, in consultation with donor countries, sets the priorities at Sabena, including preparation of new jets and maintenance of aircraft already in use in Ukraine," the minister said in an emailed statement.

He added that ownership of the aircraft was transferred from Norway to Ukraine in 2024 and 2025.

Meanwhile, he acknowledged that the F-16s in best condition available back when Norway retired its F-16s were sent to Romania, not Ukraine.

"The 32 aircraft in the best condition, along with repair equipment and spare parts, were later sold to Romania by agreement to support an allied country in strengthening NATO in Southern Europe," the minister stated.

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