The US Air Force’s chief of staff told Reuters on Wednesday that the US and its allies are starting to examine the possibility of training Ukrainian pilots to fly Western aircraft as part of a long-term plan to support Kyiv’s armed forces.
Ukraine has been seeking F-15 and F-16 fighter jets from the US, but its pilots are only trained to use Soviet-era planes, such as the MiG-29. The US and its NATO allies have said they eventually want Ukraine to be accustomed to Western weaponry as they expect to support the country for years to come.
“You want to build a long-term plan on how do you build their air force and the air force that they’re going to need for the future,” Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. told Reuters.
Later in the day, Brown spoke at the Aspen Security Summit in Colorado, where he expressed support for the idea of training Ukrainian pilots. “I do believe that we have an aspect and a responsibility, like we do with all our allies and partners, to be prepared to train them in various capabilities and capacities,” he said.
Brown stressed that no decision has been made on sending jets and suggested Ukraine could receive aircraft from other Western nations. “There’s US [jets], there’s Gripen out of Sweden, there’s the Eurofighter, there’s [the French] Rafale. So there’s a number of different platforms that could go to Ukraine,” he said, according to Defense One.
The House version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes an amendment that would authorize $100 million for training Ukrainian pilots. The amendment was sponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), an ultra-hawk who has repeatedly called for direct US military intervention in the war.
That makes Ukrainian pilots fair game wherever they are training including in America!
That’s all we need in America, a bunch of targets out in public.
So are Russian pilots fair game wherever they are training, including in Russia? Or is “fair game” a one-way street?
How about if China trains Russian pilots in their stealth aircraft? Other fighters/bombers? In China.
Russia would more likely be training Chinese pilots on thier aircraft, however Russia does not want to give up any more military data then they can to China.
According to the implied logic, China would then be a legit target for Ukrainian attacks.
Russian pilots are not free loading welfare wards from the most corrupt country in Europe if not the world. So yes it is a one way street and another way to say screw Joe Biden!
See, this is how stupid you are. Of course, Russian pilots are “fair game” inside Russia. Except Ukraine has no capability to hit them. Neither does the US and NATO without starting WWIII. And Russia will not target the Ukrainians in the US for the same reason.
See how easy that was to make a direct comment – instead of a wise-ass, ass-backwards crack?
Try being less of a curmudgeon next time. Better yet, let there not be a next time. STFU. We don’t need to read your demeaning, self-righteous bullshit.
According to the Russians, Ukraine has hit multiple targets inside Russia. The Ukrainians say they haven’t, but that Russian state media video footage of the helicopter attack on a fuel facility was reasonably convincing. Are you now saying that the Russians are lying about what the Ukrainians are capable of and just making stuff up? That would be off-script for you.
As for the other, we can both have what we want. I don’t have to STFU, and you don’t have to read what I write. And if you choose to continue reading what I write, and continue throwing petulant childlike tantrums about how mean I am to your beloved rock star idols, that’s fine too.
Also, don’t expect Russia to know or care if the pilot in a US aircraft flying over Ukraine happens to be a member of the US Air Force.
Ukraine wants nuclear weapons too. Are you sure it was not included? It’s also amazing how they title training Ukrainian pilots to provoke a world ending nuclear conflict as an amendment to the “National Defense Authorization Act.” That “Act” has as much “defense” in it as “freedom” the Iraqis received from “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” or “patriotism” we received from “The Patriot Act.”
Time for a BIG change NA!!! Smash the DC Ghouls!
If the USA keeps up with this B.S. Russia may just decide to smash all of Ukraine and go all out war. NeoCons, former “Generals”, DC Ghouls, time to shut your mouths or get strapped and go fight the Russian’s yourself,,F U one and all.
Russia did not go full “shock and awe” like another country did. The rent-a-generals know that.
I don’t know what was discussed at the recent session of the Duma. But it’s possible that Putin already has permission to escalate to all out war in Ukraine.
Sure, give them a two-week training and fly them for dog fights against Russia…!
More great ideas on how to get more Ukrainians killed. Never any talk of diplomacy in the “long-term plan”.
No more diplomacy please…! We all know how fast diplomacy and agreements fade…!
Well, the option is perpetual war, so I’ll stick with wanting diplomacy.
I am not against diplomacy…But as long as Zelensky’s stubbornness continue, it would be an exception…!
Entitled Zelensky will keep pushing and pushing for more and more welfare.
He sold $10.5 Billion more gold then Ukraine has in their countries gold reserves. Good luck taking delivery if you bought from these criminals.
As for Ukrainian pilots any aggression toward them wherever they train is another way to say screw Joe Biden! If they come to America they should watch their back out in public.
The US doesn’t have allies – they have obedient satraps who do what we tell them to do and say.
Except for Israel. America is the satrap
America is only the satrap of Israel. NATO nations are America’s satraps; so is South Korea and Japan, Australia.