Ukrainian Pilots Could Fly F-16s Within Three Months
The head of the National Guard's Air Force in the United States, Lieutenant General Michael Lo, has announced that the first group of Ukrainian pilots undergoing training on F-16 fighter jets in the United States could complete their training by the end of this year, with operational missions to follow at a later stage. This information has been reported by the Associated Press (AP).
It is expected that Ukrainian pilots will arrive in the United States and be stationed at the Morris National Guard Base in Tucson by October.
As stated by Lo, the Ukrainian pilots are being evaluated for their proficiency in the English language, and depending on their qualifications and experience with fighter jets, they may be able to complete their training in the U.S. in as little as three months. "As soon as they get the green light, they'll come here and start training immediately," he stated.
Lo also noted that to accommodate the training schedule for international pilots, some other obligations may be rescheduled to prioritize Ukraine.
Several European countries, as part of an aviation coalition, have agreed to provide training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. The United States has also confirmed the start of training in October, to be conducted at the National Guard base in Arizona.
Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Europe, it was revealed that agreements had been made regarding the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft. Specifically, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway are prepared to transfer at least 61 fighter jets.
Recently, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyy stated that a portion of Ukrainian pilots undergoing training in Denmark is ready to commence flight training.
Previously, the Ministry of Defense had stated that Ukraine might receive its first F-16 aircraft no earlier than 6-7 months from now.
As reported by The Gaze, the Swedish government is in the process of tasking its Armed Forces with evaluating the feasibility of transferring Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.
The government aims to gather information on how the delivery of aircraft to Ukraine will impact Sweden's defense capability and how quickly the country can receive new Gripens as compensation.
Furthermore, the government needs to determine the process for training Ukrainian pilots and other ground personnel for these aircraft.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter jet designed for versatility. While formally categorized as a fighter jet, it was conceived as a multi-role aircraft capable of performing various missions.