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The United States Decided to Send Retired F-16 Fighters to Ukraine
The United States Air Force confirmed that retired F-16 fighters are being sent to Ukraine.
The aircraft, in inoperable condition, are being used to provide spare parts to the growing fleet of F-16s donated by European countries.
The information surfaced after images emerged of dismantled jets being loaded onto a Ukrainian transport aircraft in Arizona.
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Shipping Inoperable Fuselages
The images, which circulated on social media last week, show at least three partially dismantled F-16s, wrapped in plastic, being loaded aboard an Antonov An-124 at Tucson International Airport.
The fighters were without wings, tails, engines, and radomes. Flight tracking indicates that the plane headed to Poland, with the presumed final destination in Ukraine.
The US Air Force confirmed that the jets were taken from the “boneyard” of aircraft located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, also in Tucson.
The site is formally known as the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.
According to the statement, the fuselages are not airworthy and were provided solely to serve as a source of parts.
Without Engines or Radars
A spokesperson for the Air Force clarified that the F-16s being sent are out of service and do not have engines, radars, or other essential components.
Therefore, they could not be reconstituted for combat missions.
The aircraft have been retired and removed from active service in the United States, and now play a logistical role in supporting the Ukrainian fleet.
It is still unclear exactly which variants of the F-16 were sent.
The presence of certain antennas suggests that they are older models of the ADF Block 15 type, previously used by the Air National Guard.
The Air Force declined to provide more details on the total number of fuselages or the exact models.
Military Transport Center
The Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in Poland was the final destination of the An-124.
The site has established itself as an important transit point for moving military material sent by Western countries to Ukraine.
The proximity to the Ukrainian border facilitates logistics and reduces risks during transit.
The delivery of these fuselages reinforces Western efforts to keep the Ukrainian F-16s operational.
While they do not increase the number of airworthy aircraft, they are crucial for ensuring the maintenance of the fighters already in combat.
Growing Fleet of F-16
So far, about 85 operational F-16s have been promised to Ukraine by various European countries.
The Netherlands committed 24 jets, Denmark 19, Norway 12, and Belgium up to 30. Norway also reported it would send an additional 10 aircraft exclusively for parts.
Some of these jets are being used in training centers.
An example is the European F-16 Training Center located in Romania, where Ukrainian pilots receive instruction before operating the aircraft in combat.
Scarcity and Wear of Aircraft
Despite the promises, many of the F-16s have yet to reach the front lines. The scarcity of spare parts has been an obstacle.
Belgium, for example, reported difficulties in maintaining the delivery schedule due to low stock of parts.
Additionally, the F-16s that arrived in Ukraine are facing wear from combat use. In August 2024, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the loss of its first F-16 and a pilot during a mission. The pilot, Oleksii Mes, died attempting to intercept a Russian missile.
Last month, on April 12, a second F-16 was shot down. The pilot Pavlo Ivanov died in the operation.
According to unconfirmed reports, the aircraft was hit by an S-400 missile fired by Russian forces. President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded Ivanov the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Photo by the U.S. Air Force/Sgt. Desiree N. Palacios. Sgt. Desiree N. Palacios.
Weapons and Equipment Used
Despite the losses, the F-16s remain in use. Recent images show the fighters equipped with AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for air combat. They were also seen with older versions of the Sidewinder, such as the AIM-9L/M.
For air-to-ground missions, the Ukrainian jets use GBU-39/B guided bombs, carried on BRU-61 racks. This configuration allows for the release of multiple bombs with high precision.
Another important component is the AN/ALQ-131 electronic warfare pod, installed on the underside of the fuselage.
It enhances the fighter’s survivability by jamming enemy radars. The F-16s also have internal electronic warfare systems, with sensors and specialized towers that detect threats and activate countermeasures.
Lack of Air-to-Air Refueling
A constant challenge for the Ukrainian Air Force is the limitation on flight time.
The country lacks the capacity for aerial refueling, requiring that the fighters fly with external fuel tanks. Missions become shorter and depend on bases close to the combat front.
The standard configuration for the Ukrainian F-16s includes three external fuel tanks, allowing for greater range.
This choice has been recurring in the images released, indicating an attempt to compensate for the infrastructure limitations.
Situation of F-16s in the USA
In the United States, stocks of F-16s are also decreasing. The older models that are still airworthy have been transferred to training programs and used as “aggressor” aircraft in combat simulations. Others have been incorporated into the QF-16 program, which turns the jets into unmanned aerial targets.
As of September 2024, the Pentagon inventory showed 150 F-16A, 27 F-16B, 143 F-16C, and 22 F-16D stored. Most are no longer in flying condition, limiting the sending of complete units to allies.
The incorporation of the F-16 poses a technical and logistical challenge for Ukraine. The model is completely different from the Soviet aircraft that the country used. Adapting involves training pilots, maintenance personnel, infrastructure, and supply chain.
Additionally, many of the fighters provided are old. This requires greater effort to keep the jets operational, making the sending of parts and dismantled fuselages even more strategic.
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