Ukraine - F-16 Type 2000
The US State Department approved the sale to Ukraine of a package of services for modernization, personnel training, and technical support for F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighters worth $310.5 million. The announcement of the US Department of State's decision to authorize the sale of an F-16 training and support package to Ukraine was published on the official website of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency on May 2. The mission of this Agency is to advance the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States by developing the capabilities of foreign security forces to respond to common challenges. The State Department statement stressed that the approved sale "will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe."
The almost simultaneous appearance in the public space of a message about the State Department granting permission to purchase a package of services and equipment for the F-16 and information about the supply of spare parts for the Fighting Falcons to Ukraine signaled to private contractors that the United States is determined to act decisively and consistently. The prime contractors, according to the granted permit, will be Valiant Integrated Services, Top Aces Corporation, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Pratt and Whitney, Snap-on, BAE Systems, AAR Corporation and Comsetra.
Against this important political backdrop, the details of the list of services, equipment, and parts permitted by Dezhrdep to be purchased from private companies look rather mundane. These are spare parts, consumables, and ground equipment for aircraft maintenance, modification, and modernization. The training of personnel in the operation, maintenance and combat readiness of the F-16 and the delivery and support of classified and unclassified software and technical documentation, as well as engineering and logistical support and other related services, were provided.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine will not have any difficulties in mastering the purchased equipment and services, therefore, the sale will not require the appointment of any additional U.S. government representatives or contractors in Ukraine. The total cost of the purchased package of services, equipment and software may be lower depending on the specific needs of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the terms of the final contracts.
Almost simultaneously, information began to spread online, with a reference to the specialized military media outlet The War Zone, about the transfer of unserviceable F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts. Then, Russian propaganda resources managed to mock the transfer of “rusty junk” to Ukraine. “The Katsaps rejoiced for a couple of days when the Khokhloma shipped a couple of F-16 fuselages from the dump,” noted the trustworthy and attentive Ukrainian Telegram channel “Colonel General Staff,” which specializes mainly in missile and aviation topics.
The War Zone published photos of partially dismantled F-16 fuselages being loaded onto a Ukrainian An-124 transport plane at Tucson International Airport, Arizona, on May 1. The An-124 was flying to Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in Poland, which is a transit hub for Western military aid to Ukraine.
The media made a request to the US Air Force, which officially confirmed that spare parts for fighter jets were being transferred to support, maintain, and repair the Fighting Falcon fleet provided to Ukraine by European partners. A US Air Force spokesman noted that the F-16s being transferred to Ukraine are “out of service and completely inoperable. These F-16s have been removed from active use in the United States and are unfit for flight. Importantly, they are missing critical components, such as an engine or radar, and cannot be restored to operational use.”
The transfer of F-16 Fighting Falcon fuselage parts is taking place from the so-called “aircraft graveyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, home to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Recovery Group (AMARG). It is the world’s largest military aircraft storage facility, covering more than 2,600 acres — more than 10.5 square kilometers. Davis-Monthan is home to more than 4,400 aircraft from various branches of the U.S. military and NASA. The local climate is dry, with low humidity and extremely infrequent rainfall, making it ideal for long-term aircraft storage, as the low humidity significantly reduces the risk of corrosion.
Importantly, the extremely hard and dry soil surface allows for the placement of heavy aircraft without the need for concrete pads. This makes Davis-Monthan Air Force Base an ideal location for long-term, low-cost storage of aircraft in various states, from ready for immediate return to service to those destined for disposal. The storage process includes sealing, during which the aircraft are coated with a special sealant to protect them from dust, sunlight and high temperatures. Separately, the engines are stored in sealed containers filled with nitrogen to prevent corrosion.
There are four categories of aircraft storage at Davis-Monthan AMARG. Type 1000 is for long-term storage with the possibility of returning to service, meaning the aircraft are kept intact for future use. This type accounts for about 10% of the aircraft at the base. "Type 2000" - aircraft used as spare parts donors. "Type 3000" involves storage with regular maintenance, engine starts, fluid changes, and towing for bearing lubrication. "Type 4000" - aircraft that are deemed surplus and are to be scrapped or sold.
As far as can be determined from open sources, Davis-Monthan hosts over 300 F-16 fighters of various modifications that have been decommissioned by the US Air Force. A significant number of them are used as spare parts donors to support operating aircraft. Most of the F-16s stored at the bases are “Type 2000,” meaning they are designed to be dismantled for parts. This means the planes have been stripped of their engines, avionics, and other key components used to maintain active aircraft.
The Type 2000 Fighting Falcons are aircraft used as a source of components to support the active Fighting Falcon fleets in the United States and among allies. In particular, America has already transferred F-16s from Davis-Monthan to the Netherlands, Poland, Chile, and Jordan. The F-16s transferred to Ukraine, judging by the photos published on the Internet and official statements, belong to the “Type 2000”. They will be used as a source of spare parts for servicing combat aircraft provided by European allies. These aircraft are not intended for return to service, but their components may be critically important for maintaining the combat capability of the Ukrainian F-16 fleet.
Despite this, even in this form they can bring significant benefits. First of all, they can be used as a source of spare parts for maintenance and repair of other F-16s that are in service or are being prepared for it. Combat conditions require constant maintenance of equipment in good condition, and the presence of such donor fuselages allows for the prompt replacement of individual components and assemblies.
In addition to their technical value, these aircraft can play an important role in personnel training. The fuselages are suitable for use as training stands for technicians and engineers. This allows them to master maintenance procedures, replace systems, and check mechanisms on real equipment without the risk of damaging combat vehicles. Such practical experience is extremely valuable when transitioning to a new aviation platform, especially when it comes to NATO-standard aircraft.
The transferred fuselages retain structural integrity and are suitable for engineering analysis and testing. Ukrainian aircraft engineers can study their design, conduct component testing, or develop adapted repair methods based on practical interaction with real aircraft. This allows to increase the technical capability of the maintenance system.
Another theoretically possible, but less likely, use is to create decoys to mislead the enemy. Fusels that look like combat aircraft can be installed on airfields as false targets. Such decoys distract enemy intelligence, force them to waste resources on shelling fake targets, and create the illusion of an aircraft presence where none exists.
So, even in the form of fuselages without avionics or engines, the F-16s transferred to Ukraine from storage are of strategic importance. They not only provide a repair base, but also contribute to the training of personnel, the creation of reserve resources and misleading the enemy. These are elements of a complex multi-level strategy aimed at increasing the resilience and effectiveness of Ukrainian aviation in war conditions.
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