The US may train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s

12 August, 2023 F-16s of the U.S. Air Force. Photo from open sources

The United States is open to training Ukrainian military pilots on F-16 multi-role fighter jets on its territory. John Kirby, US Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, made the statement on 11 August, Voice of America reports. Kirby was answering journalists' questions about possible delays in the training of Ukrainian pilots.

"Our European allies, as I said, are leading this effort. But if the potential for training in Europe is achieved, we are certainly open to training Ukrainian pilots here in the United States," Kirby said. The White House official recalled that US President Joe Biden had made it clear at the G7 summit in Japan that Washington supported the provision of F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Myrhorod, Safe Sky 2011 exercise.

American F-16 and Ukrainian Su-27 fighters.

2011. Ukraine. Photo credits: poltava.to

"And the reason why we're doing this is as part of a broader effort to make sure that we continue to improve Ukraine's self-defence and military capabilities over the long term," Kirby said.

At the same time, he stressed that receiving F-16 fighter jets would take time. "It's not just the function of handing over the aircraft, but the training, the appropriate pilot training, and the maintenance, logistics and support that you need to have modern aircraft like the F-16s in your fleet. All of this takes time.

So this is going to be a long-term effort," Kirby said. He also noted that Ukraine's acquisition of the F-16s would be a multi-stage process and the United States is committed to helping its allies "move this process forward as quickly as possible".

F-16 fighter jets.

Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands

Last month, John Kirby said that Ukraine could receive Western F-16 fighter jets by the end of this year. "F-16s will arrive in Ukraine, most likely, by the end of the year. But we do not believe that only the F-16s will be able to change the situation," said the White House official.

As Militarnyi previously reported, a coalition of 11 countries will start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in August.