Biden approves training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters
Several countries have expressed willingness to train Ukrainian Air Force pilots on F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters. The key to this issue was the decision of the USA, and they accepted it.
Here's What We Know
US President Joe Biden's administration has approved the launch of a program under which Ukrainian pilots will learn how to fly the fourth generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters. However, the USA is still in no hurry to transfer the planes to Ukraine.
The training programme will take place in Europe. Earlier, several countries expressed their readiness to help Ukraine. Among them were France, Denmark, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands. A White House spokesman said that a decision on the number of planes had not been made yet.
Denmark, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands will definitely take part in the programme. This was announced by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak. The head of the British government thanked the United States for its decision.
Welcome announcement that the US will approve the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
- Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 19, 2023
The UK will work together with the USA and the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark to get Ukraine the combat air capability it needs.
We stand united. https://t.co/36d8ffu6aa pic.twitter.com/9Us6mAieR3
The training will begin in "the coming weeks" and will take "several months". It is worth noting that two Ukrainian pilots were tested on an F-16 simulator in the US in the first quarter of this year. US instructors believe that the pilots have sufficient skills to complete the training within four months.
Source: Breaking Defense
