First group of Ukrainian pilots successfully trained on F-16 fighters in the UK
The first 10 Ukrainian pilots underwent basic training on F-16 fighters in the UK
This was reported by the press service of the British government.
“The 10 pilots have undergone basic flight, ground and language training in the UK and will one day be the first line of defense in protecting Ukraine’s skies from Putin’s forces,” the statement said.
As part of the training, experienced British Air Force instructors taught the pilots how to fly a general aviation aircraft, how to operate the instrumentation, and how to navigate at the lower and advanced levels. They also took English language courses to help with their training and improve their interaction with NATO air forces, as English is the standardized language of flight.
The group of pilots will now move on to in-depth flight training conducted by the French Air Force.
“I would like to congratulate these brave pilots on completing their initial training here in the UK. Thanks to the RAF’s world-renowned skills, these pilots have received the very best training and are now one step closer to joining the fight against Putin’s illegal invasion,” said UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps.
F-16 fighters for Ukraine: what is known
On May 21, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden approved the training of Ukrainians on the F-16. Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that Ukraine would not use these aircraft to strike at Russian territory.
In July, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the first F-16 fighter jets would likely be flying in Ukraine’s skies by the end of March 2024.
Denmark said it would supply Ukraine with 19 aircraft, provided they are not used in Russia. It is known that the first group of pilots has already started training on the F-16 in Denmark. The Netherlands will provide our country with 42 fighter jets. At the same time, Norway will provide Ukraine with F-16s, but the exact number is unknown.
On September 15, 2023, Belgium joined the training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16. Earlier, the country’s Defense Ministry said it would not provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, but later the government suggested that Ukraine would receive several F-16s next year. In 2024, the Netherlands plans to deliver the first batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
On October 11, 2023, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the country would be able to deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine in March-April 2024.
On October 12, 2023, it became known that the Netherlands would send F-16s to Romania, where Ukrainian pilots would train, and later Ukrainian pilots began flight training on F-16s at an air base in Arizona, USA.
In early January 2024, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said that Ukrainian pilots would complete training on F-16 fighter jets this year.
On February 8, Ambassador to the Netherlands Oleksandr Karasevych said that Ukraine would receive F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands this year, but the exact date was not announced.
On February 17, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the delivery of F-16 multi-role fighters to Ukraine was on schedule.
On February 21, it became known that the first group of four Ukrainian pilots plans to complete training on F-16 fighter jets by the summer of 2024.
On March 18, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis approved the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets at the country’s military base in Fătesti.
