Ukrainian pilots undergo F-16 training under different programs in five countries

Ukraine's First Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, said this.

He said that the young pilots are improving their professional level in the UK by conducting training flights in accordance with international procedures. Later, they will be retrained to fly F-16 aircraft.

At the same time, experienced pilots, together with ground personnel in Denmark and the United States, are undergoing retraining on the F-16.

There are also other groups of Ukrainian pilots and aviation personnel in the UK, Canada, Poland, and the US who are improving their level of specialized aviation English to join the F-16 retraining program in the near future.

Pavliuk also thanked the international partners of the Aviation Coalition.

"I would like to emphasize the efforts made by the partners within the Aviation Coalition to develop the combat capabilities of the aviation of the Air Force of Ukraine. Each country makes its own contribution. These are not only guarantees of aircraft, but also assistance with ammunition and everything necessary for the effective defense of the Ukrainian sky thanks to the F-16," he wrote.

F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine

On May 21, US President Joe Biden approved the training of Ukrainians on F-16s. Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that Ukraine would not use these aircraft to strike at Russian territory. 

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that the first F-16 fighter jets are likely to fly in Ukraine's skies by the end of March 2024.

On August 17, the United States approved the shipment of F-16 multi-role fighters to Ukraine.

At the same time, Denmark said it would supply Ukraine with the aircraft if they were not used in Russia. 

The Netherlands will provide 42 fighter jets. At the same time, Norway will provide Ukraine with F-16s, but the exact number is unknown.

On September 15, Belgium joined the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. Earlier, the Belgian Defense Ministry said it would not provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters because they are outdated and in poor condition. Such aircraft are dangerous to operate.

On October 11, 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, the media reported that the Netherlands would send F-16s to Romania, where Ukrainian pilots would begin training in a few weeks.

On October 26, Ukrainian pilots began flight training on F-16s at an air base in Arizona, USA.

On November 1, the Pentagon said that the training in Arizona could last from 5 to 9 months.

On December 26, the first group of Ukrainian pilots completed their basic F-16 training in the UK and are now training to fly the fighter jets in Denmark.