The delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine will take “several months at best.”
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This was stated by the US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.
Under no circumstances are we going to transfer F-16s or other Western fighters in significant numbers into the hands of the Ukrainian Air Force sooner than in a few months,” Kendall told reporters.
“Several months” is a relatively short time frame, as training a new American pilot on the plane typically takes more than two years, according to a US Air Force official, European Pravda reported, citing CNN.
Even an advanced training course for an F-16 pilot can take up to 5 months.
Meanwhile, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that in some countries, in particular in Poland, exercises of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters began.
He also expressed hope that Ukraine will soon receive F-16 combat aircraft.
It’s a good decision since the G7 summit that in the end they decided to pave the way for giving Ukraine the fighter jets they need. So pilot training has already begun. This is the first thing. I hope that soon we will be able to transfer this type of weapons to Ukraine, he said.
The Netherlands may become the first country to donate F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv, the Politico newspaper reported.
Providing Ukraine with F-16 fighters is a priority for the United States, the State Department spokesman said.
Source: Racurs
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