Ukraine will get F‑16s. The training of pilots in the USA will start soon
Ukraine will receive multi-purpose F-16 fighter jets from western countries, but training for pilots and staff is still necessary for their operation. The first pilots are set to begin training in Arizona in the United States as early as next week.
6:23 AM EDT, October 15, 2023
Ukraine has long sought the delivery of F-16 multi-tasking aircraft from the west, but the resistance has been broken - the machines will be supplied by the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium. There is even talk of several dozen fighter jets.
However, training pilots and crew is necessary to operate planes. During the NATO defense ministers' peak in Brussels, it was confirmed that 11 European countries have offered their assistance in training. The United States, the Netherlands, and Belgium are supposed to lead the coalition.
Ukrainian pilots will soon begin F-16 training in the USA
Ukrainian pilots arrived in the United States in September, but they began their preparations with an English language course at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. According to a source, the pilots have already passed the first test on subject matter knowledge.
As reported by Politico, citing information from four American officials, Ukrainian pilots are set to begin training to fly F-16 fighter jets as early as next week. The training will take place at the National Guard base in Tucson, Arizona.
At the beginning, pilots will learn the basics of operation and familiarize themselves with simulators, and then they will begin to fly real aircraft. This is a typical Air Force pilot training program, but the course can be accelerated due to the urgent need to deploy pilots into battle.
Will modern F-16s change the situation in Ukraine?
Western aircraft will help strengthen Ukraine's air defense. However, do not expect too swift changes. United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin revealed that F-16s will appear on the battlefield no earlier than spring 2024.
The F-16 was designed by General Dynamics as a 4th generation multirole fighter. The origins of the machine date back to the 1970s, but the project was modified and optimized. Ukraine would most likely receive older versions of the F-16AM/BM aircraft.
The basic armament of the F-16 is the M61A 20 mm cannon. The main advantage of these aircraft is the ability to use Western weaponry, which can effectively eliminate aerial targets, but can also be used for precise ground strike operations.
