The U.S. is sending non-flyable, stripped-down F-16s from Arizona storage to Ukraine for spare parts, supporting NATO-donated jets and aiding Kyiv’s air capabilities amid ongoing Russian missile attacks.
Though Washington has not committed to supplying Kyiv with combat aircraft, the United States Air Force has begun sending “stripped-down” F-16 Fighting Falcons to Ukraine. According to reports on social media earlier this week, non-operational F-16s are headed to Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in Poland, after which the partially disassembled Fighting Falcons will be readied for transfer to Ukraine.
Trump ally Laura Loomer shared photos showing the F-16s being loaded on a Ukrainian Antonov Airlines AN-124 transport aircraft.
“Spotted in Tucson, Arizona yesterday. Photos just sent to me by a follower. International Cargo Transporter with Ukrainian flags. Based out of Ukraine. Interesting,” Loomer wrote in a post on X.
Why Were the F-16 Fighting Falcons Left Unused in the Mojave?
The disassembled F-16 Fighting Falcons had been stored at the U.S. military’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, home to the largest aircraft storage facility in the world and more commonly known as “The Boneyard.”
Approximately 340 F-16s had been kept in long-term storage, which is overseen by the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG).
The F-16s account for more than 10 percent of the 3,200 aircraft at the facility.
None of the aircraft being sent to Ukraine can be restored to “flyable condition,” as key components, including the engine and radar, are missing. However, the airframes can still be stripped of key elements to keep the Ukrainians’ growing fleet of F-16s flying.
NATO members Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have pledged to send approximately eighty-five Fighting Falcons to Ukraine and a handful of non-operational aircraft for spare parts.
“[The Air Force] has supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts. These F-16s were retired from active U.S. use and are not flyable. Importantly, they lack critical components such as an engine or radar and could not be reconstituted for operational use,” a U.S. Air Force spokesperson told The War Zone.
Believed to have been from the older Block 15, the Fighting Falcons were likely operated by the U.S. Air National Guard. They served in an air defense role before being retired to the Boneyard in the early 2000s.
Given the age of the aircraft, it is likely that once any and all useable parts are removed from the airframes, the remaining fuselages could be mocked up to serve as decoys at Ukrainian air bases far from the front lines, helping to confuse the Kremlin as to the actual basing of the Fighting Falcons.
Was Shipping the F-16 Fighting Falcons Out of the Mojave Worth It?
Though the F-16 hasn’t been a true game changer for Kyiv, the multirole fighters have aided the Ukrainian war effort, employing the aircraft in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions.
To date, two Fighting Falcons are confirmed to have been lost since the first F-16s arrived in Ukraine last August. The first was likely due to pilot error just weeks after entering service, while last month, Kyiv confirmed that an F-16 was lost while attempting to counter numerous drones and missiles. The Kremlin has claimed without evidence that it shot down multiple other F-16s.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-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: [email protected].
Image Credit: Shutterstock/ EvrenKalinbacak.
