Ukraine will not be able to use the dozens of F-16 fighter jets it will receive as efficiently as possible because it has a problem with pilot training.
Restrictions on the ability of allied countries to train F-16 fighter pilots will negatively affect the ability of the Ukrainian armed forces to effectively use these warplanes in the future, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported, citing information and “Politico“.
American, Danish and Romanian training centers can train a limited number of Ukrainian F-16 pilots. The problem is the lack of free space for military training in training centers. As experts explained, a full squadron of 20 aircraft requires 40 pilots.
However, Ukraine will have such a number of specialists only at the end of 2025. Until then, the army of Ukraine will not be able to make the most of all the combat aircraft it receives.
Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium plan to send more than 60 F-16s to Ukraine in the summer of 2024