Ukraine denies F-16 fighter jet fleet is in maintenance crisis

Ukraine and its European maintenance partners have rejected claims that a severe shortage of spare parts and slow servicing times have grounded more than half of the country's F-16 fighter jet fleet.

The response follows a report by The Wall Street Journal this week, which claimed that intensive combat operations and delays in inspecting engines, hydraulics, and fuel lines had caused a systemic "support failure". The US newspaper suggested that the bottlenecks could sideline virtually all of Ukraine's US-made aircraft by the end of the year.

Kyiv has pushed back strongly against the reports, insisting the jets are ready to defend Ukrainian airspace as winter sets in.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tykhy acknowledged on Friday that the aircraft are operating under "demanding conditions" and that keeping them flight-ready is a complex task. He noted that sourcing components is an ongoing challenge because many of the early-variant F-16s supplied to Ukraine require parts that are no longer in active production.

However, Tykhy wrote on X that reports of "catastrophically low aircraft availability rates and excessively long maintenance turnaround times are simply false." He added that overhauled jets from Western allies are now arriving in Ukraine faster than they were previously.

"We have full confidence in our industry partners and their ability to further optimise sustainment processes," Tykhy said, adding that these capabilities would be needed most during the coming winter months.

Sabena Engineering, the Belgian firm responsible for servicing Ukraine’s F-16s, also issued a denial on Thursday. The company rejected what it called "erroneous reports citing significant delays in this critical maintenance program".

In a statement, Sabena said it was working proactively with government and industry partners "to maximise aircraft availability and return the aircraft to service."

Under standard operating procedures, F-16 fighter jets require thorough inspections of their engines, fuel lines, and hydraulic systems after every 300 hours of flying time. In a high-tempo war zone where aircraft are flown daily to intercept incoming threats, reaching this threshold happens quickly, putting immense pressure on the technicians and logistics chains supporting the fleet.

The F-16s have become a vital part of Kyiv’s air defence network. They are used extensively to hunt down the fast-moving, jet-powered drones that Russia has increasingly launched at Ukrainian cities, including the capital. These drones are faster and more agile than older models, making them difficult for ground-based defences to target.

Despite the maintenance challenges, Ukraine’s fleet is still expected to grow. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday that Belgium is on track to deliver three more F-16s before the end of the year.