Ukraine's strategic move: F‑16 fuselages arrive in Poland
The Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft delivered F-16 fighter fuselages to Poland from a base in the USA. We explain why and what exactly was delivered.
According to the Militarnyi portal, the Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan, owned by Antonov Airlines, transported F-16 fighter fuselages from the Davis-Monthan base in the USA to Poland. This base is the largest aircraft storage site in the world, where many can be restored to flight or used as spare parts.
The transportation of F-16 fuselages to Poland was organised to support the Ukrainian air force. The Rzeszów-Jasionka airport is the main logistical hub for military aid to Ukraine, and the delivered F-16 fuselages are most likely ADF versions. Photos of loading the F-16 aircraft fuselages into the hold of Ruslan "Be Brave Like Kharkiv" (UR-82027) were published by HAULPRO TRANSPORT LLC.
Antonov An-124 Ruslan
The Antonov An-124 Ruslan "Be Brave Like Kharkiv" (UR-82027) landed in Tucson, Texas on 25 April 2025, is one of the largest transport aircraft in the world, produced since 1975. Its wingspan measures about 73 metres, and it has a length of approximately 69 metres. The aircraft is powered by four Lotarev D-18T engines, which allow it to reach speeds up to about 865 kilometres per hour. Ruslan can carry loads weighing up to roughly 160 tonnes, making it extremely versatile in both military and civilian transport.
Ruslan is often used for transporting heavy military equipment, such as Chinook helicopters. Its cargo hold is about 37 metres long and 7 metres wide, allowing for the transport of large loads over long distances. This aircraft is a key element in military logistics, enabling rapid equipment deployment over vast distances.
F-16A ADF — decoys for valuable Russian weapons
F-16 ADF is a version of the F-16 fighter that was used by the US National Guard and retired from service. Currently, some fuselages of these machines are used as mock-ups for training and disinformation purposes. Ukrainians use them extensively alongside inflatable and wooden dummies to protect real equipment.
Mock-ups and so-called "unflyables" (non-flight-capable F-16 shells) are used to deceive drones and engage the limited Russian ballistic missiles. Ukrainians have very limited means of defence against them, so each mock-up hit by an Iskander-M missile means saving a real object.
