Politico reports that currently, partners are not adequately training enough Ukrainian pilots to operate the F-16, considering the quantity of fighter jets that will soon be handed over to Ukraine.
The publication asserts that Ukraine is talking about 30 pilots who are eligible to start training in the U.S. immediately. Yet the Biden administration has told Kyiv it lacks the school seats in its Arizona-based program to accept more than 12 pilot trainees at a time. Two other facilities in Denmark and Romania have a similar issue with available training spots.
Read more: How Can Non-Working F-16 Fighters Be Useful for Ukraine?
It’s the latest hurdle in the drawn-out effort to get modern F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
In May 2023, President Joe Biden green lit other countries’ requests to send their F-16s, but logistical challenges repeatedly delayed the training. Further complicating the effort, it took months for Western countries to agree to send their own aircraft to Ukraine.
Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium plan to ship more than 60 U.S.-made F-16 jets to Kyiv this summer. Ukrainians argue that the ability to fly more F-16s will help Kyiv push back Russian forces from the front lines in places such as Kharkiv, where Moscow has advanced in recent weeks.
The Air Force also trains F-16 pilots at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, but those programs also have limited spaces for international students. Those spots are typically reserved well in advance for pilots from other countries that operate the F-16.
Another eight Ukrainian pilots are being trained in Denmark. But that facility is set to close next year and will no longer participate in the training, as Denmark’s Air Force transitions to the stealthy F-35.
Earlier Defense Express reported that Ukrainian Air Force had explained how F-16 fighters protection at airfields will be implemented.
Read more: First Ukrainian Pilots Who Trained on F-16s Graduate From Royal Air Force Flight Training, the UK Ministry of Defense Posts Photos
