The Air Force explained at what stage of training Ukrainian pilots are on F-16

Ukrainian pilots learning to fly F-16 fighters are in the final stages of training and have already completed the required number of hours. Engineers and mechanics who will provide maintenance for American combat aircraft are also undergoing training.

Ilya Yevlash, a spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said this on June 17 during a telethon. According to him, there are three stages of training for Ukrainian pilots on the F-16.

The training process is continuous and includes the following stages:

– ground training;

– training on light aircraft;

– training directly on the F-16.

Engineers and mechanics who will be servicing the F-16 are also undergoing training.

"Actually, we expect the final stages of training to be completed by our pilots, who have already accumulated the required number of hours," he added.

Ilya Yevlash also said that Ukraine is taking all the necessary measures to ensure the effective operation of F-16s and their deployment.

"There is no reason to think that the enemy will be able to disrupt something 'very much'. As we can see now, the enemy is actively trying to attack our airfields, but you can see that Ukrainian aviation continues to perform tasks and is quite successful," the spokesman said.

As for what results can be expected from the F-16 in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Yevlash noted that everything will depend on the number, modernization, and armament of the aircraft that will be delivered to Ukraine:

"Airplanes are a powerful enough component, but in such a broad combat environment, it is necessary to understand that this is a multi-component component that also involves the use of the ground component. That is, all together, effectively coordinated actions will lead to success. Therefore, of course, this powerful replenishment of our aircraft fleet, its expansion, and equipping with more modern weapons would allow our ground component to work easily and effectively to fulfill its tasks and recapture our temporarily occupied territories from the enemy."

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Armed Forces would receive F-16s from Denmark in the near future.

The Netherlands announced that it would deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine this summer. After that, the deliveries will be put "on stream".

Serhiy Holubtsov, chief of aviation of the Armed Forces Command, said that Ukraine could receive at least a squadron of F-16 fighters (three to six aircraft) by the end of 2024. More may be delivered in the future, as many countries are rearming with F-35s. The first to experience the F-16 in the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be the Russian occupiers.

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