- Ukrainian pilots training in the U.S. military's F-16 are “very impressed” with the jet, the report said.
- A report by the Voice of America's Ukrainian news agency quotes a Ukrainian Air Force pilot as saying.
- According to the US Air Force, the F-16 can be used in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.
Ukrainian pilots are “very impressed” with the U.S. F-16 fighter jets, the Voice of America's Ukrainian news agency reported.
The pilot, who operated under the call sign “Phantom,” told the newspaper in an interview that Ukrainian pilots who are training on multi-role fighter jets in the United States and Europe have praised the aircraft.
“Our pilots are very impressed,” he said. “This plane simply exceeded their expectations. Despite the amount of information they received during training, they already saw great prospects and great potential for how this aircraft could serve the Air Force. I am.”
And you can imagine there's information they haven't learned yet, haven't given yet, about what else this aircraft can do. ”
However, Phantom added that retraining pilots on state-of-the-art aircraft poses certain challenges, as many pilots are used to flying older Russian Su-27s and MiG-29s.
Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder announced in August that the United States would begin training Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots “in support of international efforts to develop and strengthen Ukraine's long-term defense.” did.
The US began training Ukrainian pilots in October, the Royal Air Force began training in August, and gave pilots the opportunity to fly before the first units began training specifically for the F-16 in Denmark in December. I was given an English lesson.
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in a press release at the time that while Ukraine was “vulnerable” to Russian air attacks in the early stages of the civil war, “Ukrainian forces are now capable of intercepting and destroying overwhelming numbers. ” he said. Thanks to international supporters who provided air support for air defense, we reduced the number of incoming weapons.
He added: “Together, we aim to go further by ensuring that Ukraine in the future has a modern air force built around high-performance fourth-generation F-16 fighters.” he added.
Ukraine's Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov said, “Ukraine highly values the pilot training provided by the United Kingdom and other partners,'' adding, “Ukraine highly values the pilot training provided by the United Kingdom and other partners.'' “We have provided a quick and effective program to help improve the situation.'' . ”
It will still be several months before we see any action against Russian forces. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson said.
Netherlands, Denmark, Norway The Telegraph reported that it is providing as many as 60 F-16s to Ukraine.
According to the U.S. Air Force website, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is a “compact, versatile fighter aircraft” used in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.
The 49-foot-long aircraft can carry two 2,000-pound bombs, two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, two AIM-120 advanced intermediate-range air-to-air missiles, and two 2,400-pound external fuel tanks. . It is also equipped with one M-61A1 20mm multiple gun.
It added that it can fly more than 500 miles when conducting air-to-ground operations.
But the Atlantic Council think tank said in an August report that Russia's S-400 surface-to-air missile system likely poses a significant threat to all Ukrainian warplanes, making it unlikely that the fighter would be ready for war. He expressed doubts about whether it would prove to be a game-changer. They are then forced to fly at low altitudes, putting them at a disadvantage.
Nevertheless, “the efforts expended in training Ukrainian pilots, ground personnel and logistics personnel to operate and maintain these aircraft will have long-term value,” the paper noted.
