Belgium will not provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets because the machines are too old, local media reported, citing statements by representatives of the Ministry of Defense. It is specified that the Belgian fighters have accumulated too many flight hours.
According to the representatives of the ministry Kiev cannot be given equipment that the Belgian military would not use. Belgium expects to gradually replace its F-16 squadrons with state-of-the-art F-35s, with the first deliveries scheduled for the end of this year. The country is expected to receive a total of 34 fighter jets of the latest generation.
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Defense experts explain that the Belgian fighters have been used to such an extent that there are signs of dangerous wear and cracks on the hull. They add that this would endanger the lives of Ukrainian pilots and in this case should be treated as with expired medicines, which are thrown away instead of being sent to poor countries.
Belgium was among the first countries in the world to provide Ukraine with self-defense aid against the Russian invasion early last year. Belgian authorities provided howitzers, armored personnel carriers, automatic weapons, ammunition, fuel and medical equipment.
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Source: BTA, Nikolay Zhelyazkov
2023-09-04 08:12:23
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