The US is shifting its focus in training Ukrainian F-16 pilots, prioritizing young cadets over experienced Air Force personnel. This move could delay Ukraine’s ability to field a fully operational squadron of Western-made jets by several months.
This was reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing American officials.
According to unnamed US officials, the shift in strategy stems from a shortage of experienced Ukrainian pilots with required English language skills, as many are needed on the frontlines. Additionally, some officials believe that younger cadets may be more adaptable to Western-style training methods.
The WSJ also noted that the training program has sparked renewed discussion, particularly following the F-16 crash in Ukraine this past August, which claimed the life of Oleksii Mes, an Air Force pilot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Over the past year, the US and its international partners have been training small groups of Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets at three key locations, WSJ reports: Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona, Denmark’s Skrydstrup Air Base, and the newly opened Fetesti Training Center in Romania.
Sources interviewed by journalists indicate that a full squadron of F-16s, 20 aircraft, and 40 pilots, likely won’t be deployed to Ukraine until spring or summer 2025.
It is noted that trainees will first spend a year in the UK and France for foundational training before advancing to hands-on instruction at F-16 courses in Arizona and Romania. In contrast, experienced pilots may be able to skip the basic flight training and proceed directly to the advanced phases.
"It is a mix," a senior Pentagon official said. "Some have been experienced pilots, and we still are receiving more experienced pilots. But there's also those that do not have that kind of pilot training and experience."
On August 4, 2024, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially confirmed the arrival of F-16 fighters in Ukraine. These advanced aircraft marked a crucial step in enhancing the Ukrainian armed forces.
Ukraine’s need for more F-16s and trained pilots is dictated by the need to intercept Russian drones and missiles, as Russian aerial assaults continue to intensify, targeting vital civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities.
