Transition to F-16 not swift, but Ukraine making every effort – Air Force

The spokesman for Ukraine’s Air Force Command Yuriy Ihnat shared the information on the United News telethon.

"The transition to F-16s cannot be quick, no matter how much we want it to be. About six months is the shortest possible time to retrain both flight crew and ground personnel. In general, the training program for the F-16 is minimal - two years. Ukraine is doing everything possible to ensure that this aircraft appears in our skies and performs its missions as soon as possible," he said, adding that the training process is ongoing, with pilots practicing tactical techniques.

The pilots are learning to strike air and ground targets.

"It is very, very necessary. Because it is not only necessary to fly and control the airspace. We need to fight in it. And these are the things our pilots are practicing now," emphasized the spokesman.

According to him, aviation engineers also continue training in aircraft and weapons maintenance, programming, and precision strikes.

"All this training is needed to ensure that the aircraft operates as efficiently as possible in the sky, destroying air, ground and sea targets. Ukraine is adapting the infrastructure at certain sites so that these aircraft can be used from our airfields," Ihnat emphasized.

• Russia sticks to "meat air attacks", so its aircraft will be more likely to get into the range of Ukrainian air defense.