Summary
- Greece to send 32 retired F-16 jets to Ukraine.
- Potential transfer includes Mirage 2000-5s.
- Greece could be the largest jet donor to Ukraine.
According to a new article by Ukrainska Pravda, Greece is planning to ship its 32 retired F-16s to Ukraine. Earlier this year, Greece announced it was retiring 32 aging Block 30 F-16 fighter jets along with F-4 Phantom IIs and French-made Mirage 2000-5s (while upgrading other F-16s and procuring new French Rafales and American F-35s). This sparked debate on whether the F-16s (and maybe the Mirage 2000-5s) would be sent to Ukraine.
Ukraine reportedly to receive Greek F-16s
The Ukrainska Pravda seemingly confirms reports from April 2024 that Greece was planning to send the jets to Ukraine. A Breaking Defense report stated “A Greek news outlet recently reported that Athens is likely to approve the transfer of 32 F-16C/D fighter jets to Ukraine and could also offload 24 Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2 platforms to Kyiv as well.” It is unclear what state the F-16s are in and how many are operational.
Photo: Belgium Air Force
Ukrainska Pravda stated, “Greece has planned to decommission 32 old F-16 Block-30 fighter jets and send them to Ukraine.” The article also cites Al Jazeera and reports that Greece may not send them directly but prefers to send them first to the US, which would upgrade them, and then to Ukraine. It is possible the transfer of old F-16s to Ukraine may be part of the deal to acquire new F-35s and F-16 upgrades from the US.
If Greece donated the full 32 F-16s, it would be the largest single donor of jets to Ukraine (followed closely by Belgium, which has pledged 30, with the last to arrive in 2028). If Greece also sends the 24 retired Mirage 2000-5s as well, then Greece would be the largest fighter jet donor by far. Other countries donating F-16s to Ukraine are the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway—the first F-16s are expected to arrive in Ukraine at any time.

Related
Ukraine’s Air Force Could Have 3 Types Of Western Jets With Latest Saab JAS-39 Gripen Talks
Swedish Gripens for Ukraine remains on the table only after F-16s arrive to relieve the country’s significant logistics strain.
Gripens, Mirage 2000-5s, Super also in the offering
Separately, Ukraine has reportedly turned down the offer of receiving Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets for now, as receiving two types of Western fighter jets simultaneously would be too much of a logistical burden. However, Sweden is donating its two AWACS aircraft to Ukraine, which will act as significant enablers for Ukraine’s F-16s.
Photo: PetrCh l Shutterstock
Notwithstanding the claimed logistical burden, France has announced it will send an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5s to Ukraine by the end of the year. Argentina has also said it will return five non-operational French-made Super-Étendards back to France to be repaired and sent to Ukraine. While these Western aircraft will undoubtedly massively boost the embattled and outdated Ukrainian Air Force, all of these Western jets (except the Gripen) are aging and retiring jets.