Belgium is ready to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16, but cannot provide planes - government
Belgium is ready to train Ukrainians to pilot the F-16, but is unable to provide Ukraine with aircraft.
As reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Euro Integration, this was announced in the Belgian Prime Minister's office.
"At the summit in The Hague at the beginning of this month, during the meeting of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with the Prime Minister, the issue of the F-16 was also raised. We said that we cannot supply the planes, but we can train the pilots," said the Prime Minister Alexander de Croo's office.
It is noted that the Belgian Air Force has been flying the F-16 of the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin since the late 1970s. So they have a lot of experience with these aircraft.
The reason Belgium cannot provide F-16s to Ukraine is that all Belgian aircraft are currently in use. In particular, to protect the airspace of the Benelux and Baltic countries. These are missions that Belgium cannot or does not want to give up, De Croo's office explained.
The Belgian army has at its disposal about 50 F-16 aircraft. Over the next few years, the remaining aircraft will be gradually replaced by 34 new F-35s.
