The United States has transferred decommissioned and non-operational F-16 fighters to Ukraine, using them as a source of spare parts to service already provided or planned military aircraft before the transfer
This was revealed by sources within the US Air Force and is confirmed by analysis of international reports, including information from The War Zone. According to a spokesperson from the US military, the United States decided to support Ukraine's aviation potential in this way: the aid package includes not only new or repaired aircraft but also decommissioned combat systems. "The US has supplemented its support to Ukraine by transferring decommissioned and irreparably damaged F-16s, which are used exclusively as a source of spare parts for maintaining the Ukrainian and European aircraft already received," the military source stated. These aircraft, wrapped in heat-shrink film and stripped of key components such as wings, tail sections, engines, and nose cones, were loaded onto a specialized Antonov An-124 cargo plane with Ukrainian registration UR-82027. On April 26, this aircraft departed from Tucson International Airport in Arizona heading to Jasionka Airport in Poland. This site has long served as a primary logistical hub for delivering Western aid to Ukraine, including military aircraft. It is noted that these F-16 fuselages come from the so-called “aircraft boneyard”—the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson. This is one of the largest military aircraft maintenance and storage facilities in the world, where hundreds of aircraft are preserved and conserved; many are already retired but could be used for parts harvesting. Reports indicate that as early as April, General Christopher Cavoli, commander of US European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, informed the US Senate about the preparation of additional F-16s for Ukraine. Details about the exact number and condition of these aircraft remain classified; however, open sources suggest the possible transfer of around 85 such fighters in various states. Specifically, out of this number, the Netherlands has agreed to transfer 24 aircraft, Denmark 19, Norway 12, and another 10 are intended to be used specifically for spare parts. Belgium has also announced plans to transfer its 30 F-16s to Ukraine. It is important to note that not all of these aircraft will immediately be transferred to Ukraine in operational condition. Some will be used to train Ukrainian pilots at the European Flight Training Center (EFTC) in Romania, which is a crucial part of preparing Ukrainian personnel to operate Western fighters. Thus, this step reflects a complex and long-term process of building Ukraine’s aviation capabilities amid the ongoing war with Russia. Using decommissioned and non-operational aircraft as a source of spare parts is a kind of compromise approach that allows the most efficient utilization of available resources, reduces costs, and accelerates the training of Ukrainian pilots within the framework of international military support. In conclusion, the situation illustrates the logistical challenges of war, the possibilities and limitations of modern military aid systems, and demonstrates Western partners’ determination to provide Ukraine with necessary equipment even when modern aircraft are already retired from active service.