Among major arms suppliers in Europe, Belgium has chipped in support of the war-stricken Ukraine in the form of automatic weapons, armored vehicles, 200 trucks, ammunition, fuel, and medical supplies.
First F-16s
The estimation regarding the possible arrival of the first Western fighter jets to Ukraine continues to be purely speculative. On a more optimistic note, that could be in the late spring of 2024 or later.
Estimates are surfacing that the F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots could be quite extensive. As per American experts and official statements from Pentagon members, Ukrainian pilots will likely be ready to operate the F-16 by the summer of 2024 at the earliest.
Photo by Eirik Helland Urke
The Ukrainian Air Force is now piloting F-16 jets, following approval from the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense. This coincided with the news that six more pilots – having demonstrated skill in ‘dry training’ – have begun airborne training with the F-16 jet.
Training is in full swing
Denmark is the chosen venue for the aerial training, according to official statements. An initial group of eight pilots arrived, followed by a second group of six who arrived in Denmark just days later. All 14 pilots have successfully completed their training via the ‘UK Basic Training Programme’.
The UK program emphasizes ‘dry training’ and proficiency in the English language. According to information from the British Ministry of Defense, there are still 10 Ukrainian pilots in the UK polishing their language skills. Hence, it’s anticipated that not just 14, but a total of 24 Ukrainian pilots will be streaking across Denmark’s skies in the coming weeks.
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Source link : https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2024/01/06/two-more-european-f-16s-will-be-set-aside-for-ukrainian-pilots/
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Publish date : 2024-01-06 08:00:00
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