Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov, has encouraged foreign pilots who fly F-16 fighters to join the Ukrainian air force in fighting the Russians. Ukraine wants to get these American fighter jets at all costs to end Russia’s air superiority in the conflict.
The minister assured this Monday in Odessa that foreigners who know how to operate the howitzers and self-propelled tanks transferred to Ukraine, and who also have the corresponding permits, could go to Ukraine. “The same goes for aviators. If there are pilots who know how to fly the F-16 and are ready to go to war, the Foreign Legion is ready to open the door for you“, commented Reznikov, who this Thursday visited Madrid to meet with the Defense Minister, Daisy Robleswhere he was convinced that there will end up being a “hunting coalition” to facilitate its shipment as has happened with the German Leopard tanks.
Air Force Commander Yuri Ihnat’s spokesman said anyone willing would have to demonstrate familiarity with flying US F-16s and then undergo brief military training. After going through that phase, the pilot will go on to become a soldier in the Ukrainian army, he added.
The Ukrainian Air Force assures that for now there is no shortage of pilots who fly Russian planes. However, if Ukraine receives the coveted F-16, the demand for foreign pilots may increase considerably. “The experience of people who have been working with this equipment for a long time will be needed even at briefings,” spokesman Yuri Ihna added.
for now, training of Ukrainian pilots is underway in the United States. Ukrainian soldiers they need about six months “to master the F-16 multi-role fighter,” said a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force. The problem for Kyiv is that the US is in no hurry to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine, fearing that this could upset the Russians and generate a major escalation of tension between the two countries
Since February 2022, since the very beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Kyiv government has been asking its Western partners to hand over fighter jets. In March this year, the Polish and Slovak authorities announced that the transfer of 17 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine. Some of the aircraft donated by the Slovak side will probably serve as a source for spare parts. The United States, for its part, denies the possible availability of F-16 aircraft for Ukraine. Much less is the option of send F-35 fifth-generation fighters.
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