Ukraine's western allies finalizing training program for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 – media
Western partners continue to agree on a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighters to determine the most practical way to implement this plan, Politico said.
"One training proposal that has been discussed involves bringing Ukrainian pilots to the United States to receive instruction from the 162nd Air Wing, an Air National Guard unit based in Tucson, Ariz., that already trains foreign partners on the F-16. But that idea has had little traction, according to two of the U.S. officials and a European official," the publication said.
Another plan involves sending U.S. military pilots to Europe to train the Ukrainians somewhere outside of that country.
According to two U.S. officials, Politicos said "nothing is off the table, and no final decisions have been made."
"There's collaboration ongoing," one of the officials said. "We are working with our partners and allies to determine the most practical way to implement this plan."
According to the publication, European partners hope that training can begin this summer, most likely in one of the European centers.
However, Politico said: "According to three U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. Denmark and the Netherlands are leading a coalition of 11 nations to support the training, but so far no country has publicly committed aircraft to the program."
“Despite the various ambitious timelines, training cannot start on the F-16s until the U.S. State Department formally approves the transfer of associated training materials, such as instruction manuals and flight simulators. That signoff, which is required under export restrictions, still has not taken place. Realistically, U.S. officials say the jets won't arrive until the spring at the earliest," the publication said.
