The first group of eight Ukrainian pilots is already fully prepared for training on American F-16 fighter jets.
This was reported by Politico with reference to a U.S. official, who spoke about it on condition of anonymity, Ukrinform saw.
The pilots, who are fluent in English, “are ready to begin training on the fighter jet as soon as a formal training plan is drawn up by a handful of European allies and approved by the United States.”
However, the exact timing of that instruction remains unclear, said the official and a person familiar with Ukrainian planning, who also was not authorized to speak on the record.
It is also noted that as part of the training, another 20 pilots will undergo special English language courses in Great Britain as early as this month. A total of 32 pilots (enough for two squadrons) have been identified to potentially take part in the training program.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, referring to the Ukrainian Air Force Command spokesman, Yuriy Ihnat, Ukrainian pilots will travel to Europe at the end of summer to master F-16 aircraft.
Photo: Defensie.nl
Source: First team of Ukrainian war pilots ready for F-16 training - media
