Ukraine's first group of fighter pilots ready to leave for F-16 training - Air Force

The Air Force Command’s spokesperson said this during the telethon.

According to him, pilot training is a long-term program.

"The first group of pilots is the first wave that will go for retraining, then the second and so on. These are the pilots who will already undergo direct training with instructors in different countries that have provided us with sites. We are talking about dozens of them. We are waiting for the first group to leave, and the second will follow," said Ihnat.

He noted that Ukraine cannot send everyone for training at once, because "we will probably not receive three squadrons at once."

"We will see how decisions will be made within the aviation coalition," said the spokesman.

"Technical personnel will also be trained. The program there is a little different," Ihnat summarized.

What is known about the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16

On May 25, at a meeting in the Ramstein format, it was announced that the coalition to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces with F-16s would be led by Denmark and the Netherlands and would include four other countries: Norway, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland. 

On June 14, one of the leaders of the "aviation coalition," the Netherlands, announced that training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s would begin in the coming months.

On June 22, Denmark requested assistance from the United States to train Ukrainian pilots in the use of F-16 fighters.

On the same day, Ukraine signed a memorandum with 11 partner countries to create a coalition to train pilots on F-16 fighter jets.

On July 15, it was reported that European countries that had promised to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets were still waiting for the United States to officially approve the program.

On July 16, it became known that US President Joe Biden had approved the training of Ukrainian pilots in Europe.