Want to Stop Russia’s Jet-Powered Drone Attacks? Call the Belgian Embassy

What are jet-powered Geran drones, and why are they difficult for Ukraine to intercept?

Jet-powered Gerans are Russian attack drones fitted with small jet engines rather than the propellers used by slower Shahed-type drones. They are used to strike targets such as bridges, schools, and hospitals. Their growing numbers make the threat especially serious.

The article says faster drones can actually be easier for an F-16 to intercept than slow propeller-driven Shaheds. However, Ukraine has only a limited number of F-16s, and many are unavailable for maintenance. Speed also leaves defenders less time to detect, identify, and engage an incoming target, a well-established challenge in air defense.

Almost half of Russia’s jet-powered Gerans are reportedly getting through. The article estimates about 4,000 successful strikes this year and says Russia is producing 3,000 monthly. Keeping enough suitable aircraft, missiles, radar coverage, pilots, and maintenance support available is therefore essential.

How many Ukrainian F-16s are currently available, and how many are reportedly stuck awaiting maintenance in Europe?

Ukraine’s reported F-16 fleet numbers about 43 aircraft. The key issue is not simply how many planes have been delivered, but how many can fly on a given day. Fighter aircraft require regular inspections, repairs, spare parts, and trained technicians before returning to combat.

According to President Zelensky, roughly half of Ukraine’s F-16s are awaiting maintenance in Europe. The Wall Street Journal specifically reported that about 23 Ukrainian planes were sitting in maintenance limbo at Belgian aerospace company Sabena. The article also says approximately 29 planes have been awaiting return, reflecting different counts or stages of the backlog.

That means Ukraine may have only around half its nominal fleet available at once. The reduced fleet must defend against cruise missiles and drones while operating in an exceptionally dangerous air war. Faster maintenance, clearer reporting, and help from other countries could increase aircraft availability.

Why is a fully functioning F-16 fleet important for defending Ukraine against Russia’s jet-powered drones?

F-16s matter because they add a mobile, airborne layer to Ukraine’s defenses. They can patrol threatened areas, detect incoming targets, and launch weapons against threats that may evade or overwhelm ground-based systems. The article calls the F-16 one of the few Ukrainian platforms capable of taking out a Russian jet-powered drone.

The key mechanism is speed and positioning. The article says jet-powered drones are easier for F-16s to intercept than slow propeller-driven Shaheds. Ukraine’s air defenses reportedly intercept 90–95 percent of those slower drones, but almost half of the jet-powered Gerans are getting through. More operational fighters could close that gap.

Ukraine’s F-16 wing has already destroyed nearly 700 Russian cruise missiles and over 2,500 Shahed-type drones, despite old aircraft and inexperienced pilots. Returning grounded aircraft would expand patrol coverage, protect cities and infrastructure, and reduce the number of successful strikes.

What is phase maintenance, and why can it keep an F-16 out of combat for weeks or months?

Phase maintenance is a scheduled service period for an aircraft after a set amount of flying. For the Ukrainian F-16s discussed here, it is required every 300 flight hours. Crews inspect major systems, repair defects, replace worn parts, and test the aircraft before approving its return to combat.

The process can take much longer when facilities lack spare parts, trained workers, tools, or sufficient capacity. The article says one Ukrainian F-16 has taken as long as 40 weeks to complete. That contrasts sharply with six weeks at Romania’s Aerostar for similar aircraft and three and a half days achieved by USAF technicians in Kandahar during wartime conditions.

A long delay removes an aircraft from the defense network even if it is mechanically repairable. The article says Sabena’s contract began in January and promised four planes monthly, yet many remain unavailable. Faster servicing, additional facilities, and better coordination are therefore operational necessities.

Who is responsible for maintaining the Ukrainian F-16s in Belgium, and what role could the Belgian government play in resolving the backlog?

Sabena, a Belgian aerospace company, was awarded a $235 million contract by the United States Air Force to perform phase maintenance on Ukrainian F-16s. The company is therefore the main contractor identified in the article for the Belgian maintenance effort. The article says Belgian officials describe the program as operating perfectly, while outside reports describe a serious backlog.

The Belgian government can influence the situation even if Sabena performs the technical work. It can demand transparent schedules, inspect progress, help secure parts and technicians, and ensure the contractor meets its promised rate of four aircraft per month. It can also coordinate with partners that are willing to contribute.

The Netherlands has already announced that it will help maintain Ukraine’s F-16s. Belgium could support a shared repair network rather than treating the backlog as solely Sabena’s problem. Faster decisions and public accountability could return grounded aircraft to Ukraine sooner.

What alternatives could Ukraine and its allies use if Belgian maintenance cannot return the grounded F-16s quickly?

The article points to a basic alternative: distribute maintenance among more facilities. Romania’s Aerostar reportedly completes similar F-16 phase maintenance in six weeks, far faster than the delays described in Belgium. The Netherlands has also offered to help, creating another source of capacity.

Allies could establish a shared maintenance network. Aircraft could be assigned according to available hangars, technicians, tools, and spare parts. The United States previously demonstrated that wartime teams could compress F-16 phase maintenance to three and a half days in Kandahar, although conditions and work scopes may differ. Additional contractors or partner air forces could perform suitable tasks.

Ukraine also needs predictable parts supplies and aircraft rotation plans. These steps would not instantly solve every repair, and sensitive work may require approved facilities. However, spreading the workload would reduce dependence on Sabena, shorten queues, and increase the number of fighters available for air defense.

How do modern air-defense systems combine aircraft, missiles, radar, pilots, and maintenance crews to protect cities during wartime?

Air defense protects cities through several connected layers. Radar and other sensors detect aircraft, missiles, and drones. Commanders combine that information and choose a response. Ground-based missiles can engage targets, while fighter aircraft such as F-16s can patrol, identify threats, and attack them from the air.

The mechanism depends on coordination and timing. A radar warning must reach trained operators and pilots quickly. The chosen weapon must match the target’s speed, altitude, and direction. Maintenance crews then keep radars, launchers, aircraft, communications systems, and weapons reliable. The article illustrates this system: F-16s can help intercept jet-powered Gerans, but grounded aircraft reduce the available defensive layer.

Wartime networks must absorb repeated attacks and preserve scarce equipment. Ukraine reportedly intercepts 90–95 percent of slower Shaheds, yet nearly half of the jet-powered Gerans get through. More operational aircraft, missiles, sensors, pilots, and repair capacity would strengthen the overall shield.

Key Facts:

📌 Jet-powered Gerans use engines instead of the propellers found on many Shahed drones.

📌 Nearly half reportedly evade Ukraine’s air defenses.

📌 Russia is producing about 3,000 jet-powered Gerans monthly.

📌 Ukraine has approximately 43 F-16s.

📌 About half are reportedly awaiting maintenance in Europe.

📌 The Wall Street Journal identified 23 planes at Sabena.

📌 The article calls F-16s one of the few platforms able to defeat jet-powered drones.