NATO is eyeing the option of placing a base for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in Romania.
This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to Politico.
Three sources familiar with the planning of the training process told Politico that NATO member states are close to launching a training program for Ukrainian pilots, and that one of the sites for their future training could be in Romania.
According to former and current Pentagon officials, work is underway to conclude a contract for conducting the aircraft training in Romania.
They also explained that it is highly likely that Lockheed Martin, the company manufacturing F-16s, will lead the effort.
There has been no official confirmation of this report, but a representative of the Dutch Ministry of Defense said Ukrainian partners are working on creating a training center for F-16 pilots in Eastern Europe.
At the same time, the issue of which countries will provide Ukraine with the said warplanes is yet to be resolved, Politico notes.
Lockheed said they are ready to train Ukrainian specialists to fly and maintain the F-16 as soon as Western countries agree to send them.
Acting Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen of Denmark expressed hope that the concept, which will take into account both the supply of F-16s to Ukraine and the training of pilots, will have been drafted ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius. Denmark, along with the Netherlands, is a key member of the “fighter jet coalition”.
Politico also requested a comment from the Ministry of Defense of Romania, receiving no direct response. The ministry said Romania “welcomes the initiative to establish a coalition of NATO Allies to provide training of pilots for F-16s” and confirmed that Romania is “working closely with its NATO allies, EU partners, its strategic partners and the leadership of Ukraine to ensure that the Ukrainian nation has the ability to withstand and effectively resist the illegal Russian aggression and occupation of the Ukrainian sovereign territory.”
It should be recalled that the Romanian Air Force currently operates 17 F-16 fighters purchased from Portugal, while another 32 aircraft are expected to be delivered from Norway. At the same time, Bucharest recently approved a plan to purchase more advanced F-35s.
Source: Romania could host F16 training for Ukrainian war pilots - media
