Ukrainian pilots begin training on F-16 fighter jets — just days after US aircraft approval

Ukrainian pilots started coaching on the extremely sought-after F-16 fighter jets — simply days after the US permitted sending the plane from Denmark and the Netherlands to assist Ukraine in its warfare with Russia.

Ukraine’s Protection Minister Oleksii Reznikov instructed Ukrainian media on Saturday that each pilots and Ukrainian engineers have began coaching on the plane.

“Coaching (on F-16) has begun,” Reznikov mentioned, later including that “a minimal time period of coaching is six months,” according to CNN, which cited Ukrainian media.

Officers intend to stay tight-lipped concerning the coaching, in response to Reznikov, who mentioned instructors will solely share updates when the engineers and technicians have mastered their new expertise.

Along with studying how one can use the F-16, which can assist Ukraine counter Russian air energy, trainees will get English-language coaching in technical terminology as a result of “the essential stage of English language just isn’t sufficient.”

On Friday, the US permitted sending F-16 educational supplies from Denmark to Ukraine and dedicated to approving the switch of the jets as quickly as coaching is full.

This system acquired assist from a coalition of 11 NATO nations — however required an official go-ahead from Washington as a result of the jets are American know-how.

Denmark and the Netherlands have taken the lead on getting ready Ukrainian pilots to make use of the American fighter jet, however the US continues to be working to see if different nations might lend F-16s to the Ukrainian Air Drive.

“We welcome Washington’s determination to pave the best way for sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine,” Dutch International Minister Wopke Hoekstra wrote on X, previously often known as Twitter.

“Now, we’ll additional talk about the topic with our European companions.”

Denmark additionally mentioned it is going to now talk about offering Ukraine with the jets.

“The federal government has mentioned a number of instances {that a} donation is a pure subsequent step after coaching. We’re discussing it with shut allies, and I count on we’ll quickly be capable of be extra concrete about that,” Danish defence minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen mentioned Friday.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte mentioned in Might the Netherlands was additionally contemplating offering Ukraine with F-16s. The Netherlands at the moment has 24 operational F-16s, which they plan to part out of their armed forces by mid-2024.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken despatched letters to his Danish and Dutch counterparts reassuring them the transfers could be permitted.

“I’m writing to specific america’ full assist for each the switch of F-16 fighter plane to Ukraine and for the coaching of Ukrainian pilots by certified F-16 instructors,” Blinken wrote, in response to Reuters, which obtained a duplicate of the letter.

Blinken added, “It stays important that Ukraine is ready to defend itself in opposition to ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty.”

The extra jets would enable Ukraine to take “full benefit of its new capabilities as quickly as the primary set of pilots completes their coaching,” he additionally wrote.

US President Joe Biden has additionally beforehand proven assist for the coaching packages for Ukrainian pilots.

With Put up wires