The ISW said that a full squadron of 20 airplanes requires 40 pilots. However, it will take years to train such a large number of specialists. According to their sub-networks, if current training restrictions remain in place, Ukraine will only get such a number of pilots in 2025.
“To support ground operations as effectively as possible, the AFU Air Force must destroy sufficient air defense assets on Russian territory with long-range missiles, train a sufficient number of F-16 pilots, and receive timely delivery and a sufficient number of aircraft of this type,” the ISW report said.
Yesterday, Politico published an article stating that Ukraine has repeatedly informed the US that it is ready to immediately send 30 pilots for training. However, the U.S. side was ready to train only 12 people by September 2024. The Americans explained their decision by the fact that there are other countries in line for F-16 training, and the USA cannot violate its obligations to them.
Moreover, the Danish training center will train 8 more military men by November, but next year the training center will no longer participate in the program, as the Danish Air Force is switching to more modern types of aircraft. The training center in Romania also cannot accommodate as many Ukrainian pilots as Kiev would like.
Ukraine is due to receive more than 60 F-16 fighter jets from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway by the end of summer 2024.
