The first group of Ukrainian pilots has completed F-16 fighter jet training at a military base in Arizona, bringing Kyiv closer to deploying these advanced aircraft in its conflict with Russia.
Air National Guard spokesperson Erin Hannigan informed Politico's Lara Seligman that the pilots trained at the 162nd Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard in Tucson. These pilots are now headed to Europe for further training. Hannigan did not disclose the exact number of graduates, citing safety concerns. Newsweek sought additional comments from the Air National Guard via email late Friday night.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had persistently requested F-16s to enhance Kyiv's air defense before a coalition of Western allies, including Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium, agreed to supply Ukraine with the American-made aircraft. The training programs for Ukrainian pilots have been conducted in collaboration with France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, and the U.S.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian Air Force Major Illia Yevlash mentioned that an "unspecified number" of Kyiv's pilots had completed F-16 preparation. Yevlash, the Air Force Command's Public Relations Service officer, told Ukrainian media that the training "is constantly continuing at various levels, and we already have pilots who are directly completing their training on the F-16. As soon as possible, the F-16 will arrive in Ukraine."
In March, the British Defense Ministry reported that 10 Ukrainian pilots had graduated from a British military flight school and were moving on to advanced flight training with the French air force. After completing this training, they would begin learning to fly the F-16s.
It remains uncertain when the first F-16s will arrive in Ukraine. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, alongside Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder, stated in a press conference last month that Belgium's promised jets would be delivered to Kyiv by the end of the year. Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas AnuĊĦauskas previously estimated that the initial batch of F-16s would arrive in Ukraine sometime in June.
Military experts believe that the F-16s will significantly enhance the Ukrainian Air Force, although Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly downplayed the jets' potential impact on the war.
Footage shared on social media earlier this week suggested that Russia had upgraded its Soviet-era Su-30 fighter jets with new missiles. Russian sources hinted that the Kremlin's pilots "are quite ready for the arrival of NATO aircraft and will meet them properly."
Comments
Post a Comment