US considers expanding F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots - WSJ

The agency reminds that some Ukrainian pilots have already begun learning English in France and Britain - countries that have never used F-16s. Meanwhile, flight training is taking place in Denmark and the United States. However, the training center in Denmark will close this fall as they plan to start training on F-35 fighter jets.

Against this backdrop, according to WSJ, the US is considering a significant move-the possibility of expanding the training, either at the airbase in Arizona, where training for Ukrainian pilots is already taking place, or at another facility in the country.

One of the problematic issues is the maintenance of the F-16s that Ukraine will receive. Currently, it is planned that Ukrainians who are trained in this field will perform most of the technical maintenance within the country.

However, an unnamed Pentagon representative told the publication that higher-level work, such as engine maintenance, will initially have to be done abroad. Negotiations are also underway to have European countries send contractors for F-16 maintenance.

Background

Ukraine expects to receive F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands this summer. Meanwhile, Ukrainian pilots have been training on F-16s for over a year.

Recently, David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction in the Rada and a member of the National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Committee, noted that the number of F-16s promised to Ukraine by partners exceeds the number of trained pilots.

He underscored that the training of pilots and maintenance personnel for the fighters is a critical 'bottleneck' that needs to be addressed urgently.

According to the MP, the Ukrainian delegation during the NATO summit in Washington tried to ensure that Ukrainian pilots were trained on American airbases out of turn.