Norway is contributing, as part of a broader coalition of Allies and partners, to help Ukraine develop a modern fighter air force based on the F-16 platform. (Photo by Fabian Helmersen / Forsvaret)
Norway has donated six F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine. In addition to the aircraft donation, Norway is providing training for Ukrainian pilots and support personnel to assist in developing the F-16 as a weapons system.
Norway is also contributing funding for maintenance, technical support, and the procurement of weapons for the aircraft. Furthermore, ammunition and communication equipment from the Norwegian Armed Forces, which Ukraine needs for its F-16 fleet, have also been donated.
Public communication regarding the donated Norwegian aircraft has, for natural reasons, not been detailed. At the request of the Ukrainian authorities, no precise information was provided regarding the number of aircraft donated or their condition.
Brief Overview of Norwegian Support to Ukraine
Norway is a leading contributor to Ukraine politically, militarily, and humanitarianly. In 2026, Norway will allocate NOK 85 billion in support to Ukraine. Of this, NOK 70 billion will go toward military assistance and NOK 15 billion toward civilian support.
To strengthen Ukraine’s defence effort, the Norwegian government will prioritise the maritime domain, drones, air defence, and efforts to train and equip a Ukrainian brigade within a Nordic-Baltic framework.
Norway’s military support to Ukraine is part of a broad international effort and is coordinated through various coalitions for military assistance to Ukraine. Norway leads the maritime coalition together with the United Kingdom and also participates in the coalitions for air defence, fighter aviation, drones, and electronic warfare.
About the Air Force Coalition:
Establishing a Modern Western Fighter Capability in Ukraine
The establishment of capability coalitions to support Ukraine was decided in connection with the NATO Summit in 2023. The Air Force Coalition is intended to support Ukraine in the modernisation and development of a Western fourth-generation fighter capability.
The coalition is led by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States, in close cooperation with Ukraine. A further eleven nations participate, including Norway. Norway is part of the coalition because it is one of the countries that has donated F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine, together with the Netherlands and Denmark.
Introducing a modern fighter capability is a highly demanding task, particularly during wartime. Through the Air Force Coalition, a comprehensive approach has been established for developing a Western fighter force in Ukraine. This includes donations of aircraft, training of pilots and support personnel, maintenance systems, technical support, infrastructure, and the procurement of spare parts and weapons. At the same time, the coalition is designed to support Ukraine’s short-term needs.
Norway phased out the F-16 in 2021, and the majority of the aircraft were sold to Romania in 2022. Unlike Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium, Norway therefore did not have operational F-16 aircraft available.
In 2023, it was assessed that six of Norway’s remaining airframes could potentially be donated to Ukraine. Two of these were quickly refurbished and used in the training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots in Denmark before being donated to Ukraine. The remaining four aircraft require more extensive refurbishment before they are ready for operational use in Ukraine. Ukraine has at all times been fully aware of the condition of the aircraft. All six aircraft were formally transferred to Ukrainian ownership during 2024 and 2025 in their existing condition, and they now form part of the overall fleet managed and administered by Ukraine itself.
Norway is paying for the refurbishment of Ukrainian F-16 aircraft and is also supporting Ukraine through financing weapons, spare parts, and other F-16-related assistance via the American so-called JUMPSTART mechanism together with the other members of the Air Force Coalition.
Further Details on Norwegian Efforts to Support Aircraft Readiness and Maintenance within the Coalition
Maintenance of fighter aircraft is a comprehensive and demanding task. Several countries that previously operated F-16s are now transitioning to the F-35 instead, and global capacity for F-16 maintenance is limited. Access to spare parts and the necessary tools is also challenging.
As the sale of Norwegian F-16s to Romania includes refurbishment of the aircraft and the provision of necessary spare parts, there has not been capacity in Norway to prepare additional F-16s for donation to Ukraine. It is also important that maintenance solutions form part of a comprehensive international effort to build a Western fighter capability for Ukraine. This also applies within Ukraine itself, as requested by the Ukrainian authorities. Therefore, a bilateral agreement between Norway and Ukraine on F-16 maintenance has not been considered appropriate.
To ensure a long-term and sustainable maintenance arrangement, Norway has worked together with the other coalition members to establish suitable solutions. Today, Norway contributes financially to the preparation and maintenance of Ukrainian F-16s. This work is carried out under the contract between the United States and the Belgian company Sabena, financed through the JUMPSTART mechanism, to which Norway makes a substantial contribution. The Norwegian Parliament has been appropriately informed throughout the process.
It is Ukraine, in consultation with donor countries, that determines the order of priority for work carried out by Sabena. Capacity at Sabena in Belgium is currently being expanded so that more Ukrainian aircraft can be maintained there.
On the Sale of F-16 Aircraft to Romania
In 2022, an agreement was concluded with Romania for the sale of 32 F-16 aircraft with associated equipment, enabling Romania to build a modern fighter air force. The sale also includes workshop equipment, spare parts, and training for technical personnel.
The Norwegian government has been clear that it will honour its sales commitments to NATO Ally Romania, to which it sold 32 F-16 fighter aircraft in 2022. The sale to Romania was strategically important, as it supports an Allied nation in a vulnerable and strategically significant region with modern fighter aircraft.
The former Norwegian aircraft are today used by Romania, among other purposes, to intercept Russian drones straying toward NATO’s southern flank, and to support other NATO countries in Baltic air policing missions. Romania has emphasised in dialogue with Norway the importance of establishing a fully capable air force as quickly as possible.
On Assessments of Further F-16 Maintenance Possibilities in Norway
KAMS (Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services) and the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency recently informed the Ministry of Defence that, once the mission of delivering F-16 aircraft to Romania has been completed, no equipment or parts will remain in Norway to carry out the type of F-16 maintenance required to refurbish the final four F-16 aircraft Norway has donated. The equipment and spare parts are included in the contractually agreed sale to Romania.