The non-operational aircraft will help maintain European-donated F-16s already proving effective in Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The United States shipped several retired F-16 “Fighting Falcon” fighter jets to Ukraine last week to serve as spare parts for operational F-16s donated by European countries, expanding Western military support against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Photos circulating online last week showed shrink-wrapped F-16 fuselages being loaded onto a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 “Ruslan” cargo plane at Tucson International Airport in Arizona, according to Business Insider. The aircraft, bearing registration UR-82027, departed on April 26 with its cargo bound for RzeszΓ³w Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland.
“These F-16s were retired from active US use and are not flyable,” a U.S. Air Force spokesperson said. “Importantly, they lack critical components, such as an engine or radar, and could not be reconstituted for operational use.”
While the jets won’t see combat themselves, they will provide crucial maintenance support for the growing fleet of operational F-16s that European allies have donated to Ukraine’s air force.
Denmark and the Netherlands formed what became known as a “fighter jet coalition” in 2023, with the first operational F-16s arriving in Ukraine in July 2024. The Netherlands delivered another batch in October after replacing their F-16s with newer F-35 models. Norway and Belgium have also pledged F-16 donations, according to The Kyiv Independent.
The donated fighters have already made a significant impact in the conflict. General Christopher Cavoli noted that Ukrainian F-16s have “defeated a large number of cruise missile threats, and delivered an awful lot of offensive attacks.”
For the U.S. Air Force, the initiative provides a way to repurpose retired aircraft while strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The non-flyable jets will supply components to keep the operational European-donated F-16s in service longer.
RzeszΓ³w Jasionka Airport, Poland’s eighth-busiest airport, has become a strategically important hub for shipments headed to Ukraine due to its southeastern location near the Ukrainian border.
Although specific details about the retired American F-16s are limited, military analysts at Militarnyi, The War Zone, and Defense Express believe they are likely Block 15 ADF (Air Defense Fighter) models formerly operated by the U.S. National Guard. These aircraft, retired in the 2000s, reportedly have APX-113 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) antenna components.
The F-16 has been manufactured by three different companies since its introduction: General Dynamics (1974-1993), Lockheed Corporation (1993-1995), and Lockheed Martin (1995-present).
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. has shipped decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine to be used as spare parts.
- These parts will support operational F-16s donated by European countries including Denmark and the Netherlands.
- The non-operational jets were transported via Ukrainian cargo plane to Poland on April 26.
- Ukrainian F-16s have proven effective against cruise missiles and in offensive operations.
- The retired U.S. jets are believed to be ex-National Guard Air Defense Fighter models.
