The United States is now focusing its training on Ukrainian F-16 pilots from experienced pilots to junior cadets.
Ukraine likely won’t have a full squadron of F-16 fighters until the end of the year. Perhaps, such a number of aircraft should be expected in the spring or summer of next year, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The United States will refocus its training on Ukrainian F-16 pilots from experienced pilots to junior cadets. This decision may push back by several months the time when Ukraine will receive a full squadron of aircraft.
US representatives explained that this decision was made due to the lack of experienced Ukrainian pilots with knowledge of English. Some officials also said the US believed junior cadets would be more open to studying in the West.
Ukrainian pilots are trained in three different places: at the Morris base in the US state of Arizona, at the Danish military base in Skrydstrup, which was recently closed. According to the WSJ, about a dozen pilots have currently completed the courses, 11 of whom are now flying in Ukraine. Some pilots who began training in Denmark failed the program, a Western official said.
The publication’s sources note that Ukraine likely won’t have a full F-16 squadron (20 aircraft and 40 pilots to fly them) until the spring or summer of next year at the earliest.
People familiar with the program noted that eight Ukrainian cadets who last year learned basic flying skills with Alpha Jets in France began F-16 training in Romania last month. Eight more experienced pilots are now completing F-16 training in Arizona and will arrive in Ukraine early next year.
We remind you that at the end of this year Ukraine will receive another batch of F-16 fighters from Denmark.
Ukraine received the first F-16 from the Netherlands
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.