Norway’s F-16 Delivery to Ukraine Faces Major Delays, None Transferred as of April 2026

Norway’s planned delivery of at least six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is facing significant setbacks, with none of the aircraft having been transferred as of April 2026. Even under the most optimistic scenario, the jets may not arrive until 2027 — far later than the original 2024 timeline. The delays stem from a combination of technical challenges, maintenance backlogs, and capacity constraints at repair facilities .

The pledge was first announced in August 2023 by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre during a visit to Kyiv. At the time, expectations were that deliveries would begin as early as 2024. However, more than two and a half years later, not a single Norwegian F-16 has been delivered to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Where Are the Jets?

The six F-16s Norway committed to Ukraine are currently not combat-ready and are located at a maintenance facility in Belgium . The breakdown of their status is as follows:

• Two aircraft were previously used to train Ukrainian pilots in Denmark. After completing their training role, they were sent to the Sabena Engineering facility in Belgium for repairs. According to reports, they have been undergoing maintenance there for over a year .
• Four aircraft were deemed non-operational at the time of transfer. In April 2025, they were disassembled, packed into crates, and shipped to the same Belgian facility. These jets arrived at Sabena roughly a year ago, but refurbishment work has not yet begun in earnest .

A Ukrainian Air Force adviser told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that each of the four disassembled aircraft is missing approximately 100 components . Sourcing these parts alone could create additional delays, further pushing back the delivery timeline.

Why the Delay?

Several factors have contributed to the protracted timeline:

• Capacity Constraints at Sabena Engineering: The Belgian facility responsible for servicing the F-16s is reportedly facing significant capacity issues. According to sources cited by NRK, the workload at Sabena has been a primary bottleneck, preventing the Norwegian jets from being prioritized for repair .
• Aircraft Condition: Norway has acknowledged that the jets pledged to Ukraine were not in flyaway condition. Defense Minister Tore Sandvik noted that “it was generally known that the aircraft required extensive repair work” . He contrasted this with Denmark and the Netherlands, which handed over aircraft directly from active service.
• Norway’s Priorities: It also emerged that Norway sold 32 of its best F-16s to Romania to support an allied country and strengthen NATO’s southern flank. The aircraft earmarked for Ukraine were of lower quality and required significant repairs .

Timeline: Could Be Another Year

Even under the most optimistic scenario, where refurbishment were to begin immediately, the work could take around a year to complete . This suggests that the Ukrainian Air Force may not receive these aircraft until spring 2027 — roughly three and a half years after the pledge was first made.

The head of the defense committee in Norway’s parliament, Peter Frølich, called the situation “a scandal,” adding: “Most people in Norway believed the Norwegian aircraft were already in the air defending Ukraine” .

A Broader Pattern: Belgium Also Delaying Deliveries

Norway is not alone in its delays. Belgium, which pledged up to 30 F-16s to Ukraine, has also yet to deliver a single aircraft. Brussels has cited delays in receiving its own F-35 fighter jets as a primary reason. Belgian officials have also suggested that Ukraine itself requested a slowdown due to a shortage of trained pilots .

Together, the 36 undelivered jets from Norway and Belgium account for nearly half of the 79 F-16s pledged by the international “fighter coalition.”

For context, other nations have moved more swiftly:

• The Netherlands has delivered all 24 of its promised aircraft.
• Denmark has reportedly transferred at least 12 out of its 19 pledged F-16s.

As it stands, Ukraine may currently have up to 39 F-16s in service, though this figure accounts for operational losses and delivered units from other nations .

Note: This article is based on reporting from Defense Express, NRK, and other sources cited throughout. The information reflects the situation as of April 2026.