Amid the process of building up and strengthening the fleet of F-16 fighters that Ukraine is receiving from its European allies, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded a new support contract to Lockheed Martin. The agreement, valued at $25.9 million, covers the creation of specific technical orders, with work to be carried out in Fort Worth, Texas, and scheduled for completion by May 2029. Funding comes from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, reflecting Washington’s emphasis on ensuring the operational sustainability of Ukraine’s Fighting Falcons.
The contract, processed as a sole-source acquisition under the Falcon Enterprise program, includes the development of manuals, documentation, and technical material tailored to the particular requirements of the Ukrainian Air Force. In this way, not only is immediate support guaranteed for the transferred aircraft, but the foundations are also laid for a medium-term maintenance and operational autonomy framework. The body overseeing the work is the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, headquartered at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
The conclusion of this contract comes at a key moment for Ukraine, which in recent months has recorded significant progress in deliveries of F-16s committed by several European countries. The Netherlands has already completed the transfer of the 24 aircraft it had pledged, officially confirming the dispatch of the final batch in May 2025. The Dutch government highlighted that Ukraine’s transition to this weapon system was carried out in record time, despite the difficulties inherent to the wartime context and Russian attacks on the country’s air infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Denmark has made steady progress in transferring its fighters. Of the 19 F-16AM/BM pledged, 12 have already been delivered, with the remainder expected to arrive in the coming months. These aircraft are part of the broader modernization process of the Royal Danish Air Force, which is moving forward with the introduction of F-35A Lightning II fighters to progressively replace the Fighting Falcon. At the same time, deliveries of the 24 F-16AM/BM acquired by the Argentine Air Force are scheduled to begin by the end of the year.
Norway has also consolidated its role as a central player in this coalition, confirming in June 2024 that it had completed the donation of 14 F-16 Block 10/15 fighters to Ukraine. In total, Oslo received authorization to transfer up to 22 aircraft, along with engines, support equipment, and technical documentation, in an operation valued at over $1.6 billion. This contribution significantly strengthens Ukraine’s combat capability amid constant Russian airstrikes.
Kyiv’s strategic goal is to establish a fleet of 85 F-16s, composed of aircraft from the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium, although in the latter case deliveries have faced delays. The creation of technical manuals, the development of mobile support systems, and the recent U.S. approval of new low-cost ERAM missiles are all part of the same logic: providing Ukraine not only with the aircraft but also with the infrastructure and weaponry needed to sustain their operability under wartime conditions.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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