Ukraine’s partner states within the aviation coalition are adhering to their commitments regarding the supply of combat aircraft and the training of Ukrainian pilots.
This was emphasized by Yuriy Ihnat, chief of the Air Force communications department, who spoke on national television, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“Within the framework of the aviation coalition, set up last year, the nations are fulfilling their obligations regarding aircraft supply and pilot training. In training facilities, instructors ensure training not only on F-16s, but also on Mirages. These processes are underway, and, of course, they are not fast. The standard transition to F-16s requires much more time than the pilots spent on it,” Ihnat noted.
He also highly praised combat performance of Ukrainian pilots, who have perfectly mastered F-16 fighter jets, and whose experience is already being studied by Western partners.
“We all see what F-16 pilots are doing today. For example, recently a pilot shot down six cruise missiles in a single sortie, with only four missiles to use, finishing the other two targets using an aircraft gun. There have been no such cases in world history at all. This is absolutely unique. Therefore, our partners are certainly learning from the experience that we already have, both on the ground and in the sky,” Ihnat noted.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, on March 20, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had received a new batch of F-16 fighter jets.
Source: Ukraine’s Air Force assesses pace of F-16, Mirage deliveries
