As of: April 3, 2024, 3:50 p.m
By: Christian Nemeth
Comments
Press
Split
The first Ukrainian pilots appear to be entering the final phase of their fighter jet training. But will the “Fighting Falcon” be deployed in time?
Kiev – In the Ukraine war, the Zelensky government is relying on a greatly improved air force. The focus here is also on the legendary F-16 fighter aircraft, for which Ukrainian pilots are currently being trained. At the beginning of February 2024, the Netherlands announced the delivery of 42 aircraft, supporting a commitment from Denmark, which had also promised 19 F-16 aircraft. The training process of the first Ukrainian units now appears to be entering its final phase, but the first deployment in the war-torn country could still be a long time coming.
F-16 Fighting Falcon |
|
|---|---|
First flight: |
February 2, 1974 |
Commissioning (USA): |
August 17, 1978 |
Number of pieces: |
4604 (as of June 2018) |
Turning point in the Ukraine war? Pilots train with F-16s
As early as August 2023, an unknown number of Ukrainian fighter pilots began F16 training in Denmark and the Netherlands as well as in the USA, England, France and other countries. Two groups are now well advanced in their technical training, as Ilya Yevlash, spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, recently explained to the online portal
unian.net
.
According to Jewlasch, the corresponding pilots would now be in the United States and Denmark: “They are already honing their skills directly in the F-16 aircraft.” Another group could continue their studies in France in parallel in light aircraft, while one The fourth Ukrainian pilot unit is currently in England to complete ground training on site. “You will learn the language there, as the use of F-16 aircraft requires appropriate knowledge of the English language,” emphasized Jewlasch.
Ilya Jevlash, spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced that the first Ukrainian F16 pilots are on the training finish line. © IMAGO/Avalon.red
F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine: Engineers are also being trained
In addition to the pilots, technical specialists, including engineers for the maintenance of the modern fighter aircraft, are also being trained, the Ukrainian military spokesman said. After their training and return to Ukraine, they in turn would train their compatriots and colleagues.
The first missions by the Ukrainian air force in the F-16, which Kiev has been eagerly awaiting, were originally planned for spring this year. “Our goal is to give Ukraine an initial operational capability with its F-16 program in 2024, which would include trained pilots, the platforms, but also trained maintainers and supervisors, infrastructure as well as spare parts and ammunition,” explained Celeste Wallander , undersecretary for international security affairs at the US Department of Defense, according to
Flugrevue
last January.
Denmark also wants to deliver its first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine before the summer. © IMAGO/ABACAPRESS
My news
1,500 euros per month – Citizen’s benefit recipient emphasizes: “It’s just too much money for my standards” read
Contribution service sends letters to thousands of households - if you don't respond, you risk being fined
“Accumulation of vehicles” spotted: Russia’s army is moving new tanks to Crimea
“That touched a nerve”: Breakfast café has to close shortly after opening – due to too many guests reading
“Significant losses” for Russia: Ukraine repels several attacks on the Dnipro
F-16 fighter jets shot down: Putin openly threatens to attack NATO airfield
Ukraine War: F-16 still a “game changer”?
Although Ukraine received its first F-16 units from the Netherlands in November 2023, they have since been stationed in Romania and used for training. The Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas last stated a specific date in February and assumed that the first F-16 deployment in the war zone would take place in June 2024.
For a long time, achieving air sovereignty in one's own country was seen as a "game changer" in Kiev's favor - and the diverse and proven F-16 fighter pilot was one of the keys to this. However, the assessments of some experts in this regard now seem to be somewhat bleaker.
Dire forecast from a Ukraine officer: “Will not be suitable for 2024”
The online magazine
Politico
cites an unnamed high-ranking officer in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He often criticizes the slow F-16 delivery process: “Often we simply don’t get the weapon systems when we need them – they come when they are no longer relevant.”
This officer also assumes that the first twelve F-16 aircraft will not be ready for operation until next summer, when the basic training of the first Ukrainian student pilots has been completed, and complains: “Every weapon has its own right time. In 2023, F-16s were needed; They won’t be suitable for 2024.”
Russia uses time for defensive preparations
The reason for the cloudy assessment of the quoted Ukrainian official is the fact that Russia used the interim period for appropriate preparations: “In the last few months we noticed that the Russians were firing rockets from Dzhankoy in the north of Crimea, but without warheads. “We couldn’t understand what they were doing, and then we found out: they’re rangefinders,” the officer explains by way of example.
According to the Ukrainian military, the Russian army calculated how best to station its defense and radar systems in order to achieve the maximum possible coverage of the area in order to contain any F-16 attacks on the front line or Russian logistics centers . Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone technology is proving increasingly successful in the fight against the Putin regime.
(chnnn)