Why 5 NATO Allies Are Quietly Retiring Fighter Jets With No Direct Replacement In Sight

Several NATO allies in Europe are extending the service lives of or retiring frontline fighter jets without immediate replacements because next-generation programs are delayed and procurement decisions have stalled. Spain will keep roughly 60 F/A-18 Hornets flying until as late as 2035–2040, while its AV-8B Harriers are still expected to retire around 2030 with no STOVL successor confirmed. Belgium, meanwhile, plans to begin retiring its F-16s from 2026 even as F-35 deliveries lag behind schedule, thus creating a real, measurable capability gap across parts of Europe.