Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat said on Friday that, based on estimates from their US counterparts, it would take Ukrainian pilots about four months to master the F-16 fighter jets.
“Our pilots have been evaluated, they are fighter pilots, with experience and many flying hourssaid Yuri Ignat, referring to the two Ukrainian airmen who received training to use the North American fighter jets.
“Currently all pilots in combat conditions perform extremely difficult tasks, do heroic things with old equipment, which in some cases is twice as old as the pilots themselves.”emphasized the spokesman in a speech on a television channel in the country.
Ignat explained that after training, Ukrainian pilots are estimated to master “Western technology” in about four months.
“Each pilot has his individual training, each pilot receives an individual program (…), the pilots are already preparing, studying some theoretical matters and therefore making great strides,” he said.
“Let’s not forget the engineers and controllers,” stressed Ignat, adding that he hopes the “European family” will also participate in the training of the Ukrainian pilots.
The supply of F-16 fighters is currently Kiev’s main demand for Western allies, after criticizing the obsolescence of Soviet-made MiG-29s sent by Poland and Slovakia.
On Tuesday, the UK, with the support of the Netherlands, announced its intention to form an international coalition to help Ukraine acquire F-16 fighter jets.
A day later, British and German defense ministers said it was up to the United States to decide on a possible delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Kiev.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: DN
