Two Ukrainian pilots arrived in the United States to have their skills evaluated
5 March, 2023 F-16 block 70 fighter jet. The photo is illustrative Two Ukrainian pilots are currently in the United States undergoing an assessment to determine how long it could take to train them to fly attack aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets.
NBC NEWS reported this with reference to two Congressional officials and a senior U.S. official. However, there is currently no decision on the transfer of combat aircraft to Ukraine. According to the media's source, the skills of the Ukrainians are being evaluated on simulators at a U.S. military base in Tucson, Arizona, the officials said, and they might be joined by more of their fellow pilots soon.
F-16 multi-role fighter jet of the U.S. Air Force. Photo from open sources
It is noted that the U.S. authorities have approved bringing in up to 10 more Ukrainian pilots to the U.S. for further assessment as early as this month.
In this way, they want to evaluate the training of Ukrainian pilots and determine how long a proper training program could take. "The program is about assessing their abilities as pilots so we can better advise them on how to use capabilities they have and we have given them," an official said. At the same time, they emphasize that it isn't a training program and shared that the Ukrainians will not be flying any aircraft during their time in the U.S.
F-16 fighter jet pilot training center by Elbit Systems
Colin Kahl, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, told the House Armed Services Committee that the U.S. has not made the decision to provide F-16s. He also said the U.S. has "not started training on F-16s" and that the delivery timeline for F-16s is "essentially the same" as the training timeline, about 18 months.
"So you don't actually save yourself time by starting the training early in our assessment. And since we haven't made the decision to provide F-16s and neither have our allies and partners, it doesn't make sense to start to train them on a system they may never get," Colin Kahl said. Other U.S. defense officials have said the training could be shortened to six to nine months, depending on the pilot's previous training and knowledge of fighter aircraft.
According to American and Western officials, Ukraine says it has less than 20 pilots ready to travel to the U.S. to train on F-16s. And another 30 or so who could be trained in the near future.
F-16AM fighter jet of the Air Force of Belgium, 2007. Photo credits: Raybin
When asked about the assessment of two Ukrainian pilots, a defense official described it as a "familiarization event." "It is a routine activity as part of our military-to-military dialogue with Ukraine.
The familiarization event is essentially a discussion between the Air Force personnel and an observation of how the U.S. Air Force operates. This event allows us to better help Ukrainian pilots become more effective and better advise them on how to develop their own capabilities," said one of the sources.
In his appearance before the House Armed Services Committee, Colin Kahl said that Ukrainian officials have asked the U.S. for as many as 128 aircraft -- a mix of F-15s, F-16s, and F-18s.
American F-15 fighter accompanied by a pair of F-16
Kahl said the U.S. Air Force estimates that Ukraine will ultimately need between 50 and 80 F-16s to replace its current air force. If the U.S. provides newly built aircraft, it will take three to six years to deliver them to Ukraine, with a slightly shorter timeline of 18 to 24 months if the U.S. sends refurbished older models of F-16s.
The cost to send the F-16s would be as much as £11 billion, depending on the model and number delivered.
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