It has become known when Ukraine may start using F-16s
Ukraine and allies expect that the AFU's use of F-16 fighter jets could help Ukrainian defenders advance faster on the frontline.
Ukrainian pilots may start performing combat missions on F-16 fighter jets as early as this winter. The Wall Street Journal reports that.
The pilots may take part in combat operations on F-16 fighter jets as early as this winter, which is a more optimistic timetable than previous estimates and which, in turn, could provide Ukrainian troops with significant combat capabilities next year," the Journal said.
Citing its own sources, the newspaper said that Ukrainian pilots are quickly learning the equipment and will be ready to fly sooner than expected.
The US can train English-speaking pilots in five months. The group sent to Arizona for training has less than 10 pilots who are sufficiently proficient in English," the report says.
It is also noted that another group of pilots has started learning English. After which they will undergo training on fighter jets.
At the same time, a number of US officials believe that Ukrainians will not be fully ready for combat flights on F-16s until mid-2024, and possibly much later. U.S. officials also believe that finding and training fighter maintenance crews, who must also be proficient in English, may prove more challenging than training pilots.