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Why the F-16 fighter jet remains a force to be reckoned with (updated 2026)

28th January 2026 - 15:56 GMT | by Lucy Powell in London, UK

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The F-16 Block 70/72 is the latest and most sought-after version of the fighter. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet remains in the limelight more than 40 years after its first flight. Shephard sums up the latest developments and details everything you need to know about the aircraft in 2026.

The list of countries that would like to get their hands on the F-16, whether pursuing the latest variant or upgrading their existing fleets to the Block 70/72 type, continues to grow.

Ukraine also continues to acquire F-16s, with donated aircraft for the country still rolling in. Denmark recently retired the last of its F-16 fighter jets and donated the final batch of 19 aircraft it had committed to Ukraine. The Netherlands has also completed its deliveries of 24 aircraft to the country.

Belgium, meanwhile, has doubled down on its commitment to supply F-16s to the country, as Belgian defence minister Theo Francken

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Lucy Powell

Lucy Powell is Shephard’s Air Reporter. An award-winning journalist with over four years in …

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