The proximity of the boneyard to Tucson International Airport further supports this conclusion.
Ukraine’s F-16 jet fleet
While these airframes will not increase Ukraine’s combat-ready fleet numerically, their strategic value lies in logistical support.
Cannibalizing these platforms for hard-to-source components will increase mission-capable rates for Ukraine’s operational F-16s, an increasingly critical factor as the conflict with Russia enters a prolonged attritional phase.
Currently, approximately 85 operational F-16s have been pledged to Ukraine.
This includes 24 from the Netherlands, 19 from Denmark, and 12 from Norway, with Norway supplying an additional 10 aircraft strictly for spare parts.
Belgium has committed to providing 30 more. However, not all these jets are destined for frontline use; many are allocated for pilot training at Romania’s European F-16 Training Center (EFTC).