In addition to the new F-16s, the Ukrainian government has requested additional 20mm ordnance for their cannons—which is far cheaper for anti-drone operations than advanced missiles.

NATO member Belgium has confirmed that it is on track to transfer three of its American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters to Ukraine by the end of this calendar year. In a post on Facebook, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever and the Belgian people, and acknowledged the support he has received from other countries, notably ordnance for the multirole aircraft.

“There is an important agreement with Belgium on the transfer of three F-16 fighter jets to us by the end of this year,” Zelensky wrote. “We will implement the acquisition of these aircraft through an accelerated procedure. We have already received the urgent supply of ammunition for F-16s from Belgium and other countries, including Spain. Thank you!”

Neither Belgium nor Ukraine has provided a timeframe on the new deliveries.

Kyiv has received roughly 40 to 50 F-16s from its European allies since the first deliveries began in July 2024, with around 40 of the aircraft in operational use by the Ukrainian Air Force. Since the start of the transfers, Ukraine has lost at least five Fighting Falcons in accidents, crashes, and combat attrition.

Still, the overall impact of the F-16s on the battlefield has been extremely positive for Kyiv. In just over two years, the American-made single-engine fighters have become a vital operational workhorse in Ukraine’s air defenses, intercepting more than 1,000 Russian missiles and drones, with the aircraft accounting for roughly 80 percent of the Ukrainian Air Force sorties.

More F-16s Means More Pilots and More Training

As additional F-16s have arrived in the country, Kyiv has expanded its capacity to train its pilots on the Western fighter. Prior to the war, the Ukrainian Air Force largely relied on Cold War-era aircraft inherited from the Soviet Union after its collapse, including the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker fighter jets.

When the United States and European NATO allies introduced the F-16 to Ukrainian arsenals, none of the pilots were familiar with it, requiring extensive training in the West; this remains the case today, though training times have improved somewhat.

There are several learning curves that the Ukrainian pilots face. Key among them is the fact that the F-16’s controls and warning systems are in English, but also include specialized military aviation terms that differ from civil aviation English. Perhaps a larger issue for many pilots is the fact that the F-16 isn’t equipped with a center-stick control like those of the Soviet-designed fighters.

Instead, the F-16 control seat features a uniquely reclined design that is angled back at 30 degrees—designed to help the pilot’s body handle extreme gravitational forces—paired with a stationary, pressure-sensitive side-stick on the right console. The flight controls are mounted on the sides, with the pilot’s lap and leg area completely open. The side-stick sits on the right-hand console and does not actively move when pushed or pulled, with the engine power throttle sitting on the left-hand console. Both consoles feature a “Hands-On Throttle and Stick” (HOTAS) configuration that allows the pilot to operate radar, weapons, and radios without lifting their hands from the main controls.

Mobile simulators are helping with the transition to the F-16, and the first of these arrived in Ukraine in April; former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov credited the simulators with increasing the pace of training without lowering quality. The simulators allow the pilots to rehearse complex combat scenarios and even practice missions, which has been shown to improve reaction time, decision-making, and situational awareness.

Ukraine’s F-16s Need More Bullets, Too

Even as Ukraine will receive additional F-16 Fighting Falcons, and is ramping up efforts to train the pilots on the multirole aircraft, it still requires ordnance for the warbirds. Kyiv has noted a shortage of AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. Moreover, this week, the Ukrainian Air Force put out a call for more 20mm rounds for the F-16’s internally mounted M61A1 Vulcan six-barrel rotary cannon, which can fire 6,000 rounds per minute.

Ukraine is now negotiating with several European countries and ammunition manufacturers to supply the ordnance, Bloomberg reported, citing individuals familiar with the discussions. The ammunition, which is far more economical than the air-to-air interceptors, would also help conserve the missiles for use against more serious threats such as cruise missiles.

20mm rounds have already proven relatively effective at shooting down the jet-powered drones Russia has increasingly employed to strike Ukrainian infrastructure. Still, it takes approximately 150 rounds to shoot down a single drone, and the F-16s can easily burn through 10,000 rounds daily during intense attacks.

Each Fighting Falcon carries around 500 rounds of semi-armor-piercing, high-explosive, incendiary (SAPHEI) PGU-28 20mm cartridges, and pilots are trained to fire in half-second bursts, which send out around 50 of the exploding cartridges.

And intercepting a drone is no easy task. The F-16s must close in on the drones, as the ordnance has a range of around 4,000 feet. Once in the sights, the target appears as little more than a dot, requiring careful aim. Pilots also need to be cautious of where a destroyed drone, as well as the bullets from the gun, can land, to avoid endangering those on the ground—meaning they cannot simply “spray and pray,” an easier anti-drone approach.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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