Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Saturday that training for Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16 fighter jets should begin next month.
“The designated persons have been identified, the program will be prescribed by the beginning of July, it will be announced, (and) I can optimistically say that training will begin in July already,” Reznikov said, according to Reuters.
The effort to arm Ukraine with F-16s is being led by the Netherlands and Denmark. Both countries, as well as Belgium, are expected to provide Ukraine with the US-made fighter jet but have not made a final commitment.
While President Biden has signed off on the delivery of F-16s from European countries to Ukraine, the US has not committed to sending its own jets. But the Biden administration has not ruled it out, so the US could eventually supply Ukraine with F-16s from Pentagon stockpiles.
It’s also unclear at this point how long the training will take as estimates vary widely from a few months to up to two years. According to Yahoo News, a leaked Air Force document says training Ukrainian pilots could take as little as four months. The estimate is based on the assessment of the skills of two Ukrainian airmen that was done in late February and early March at the Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona.
Ukraine is also eyeing other US-made aircraft and has put in a request with Australia about F/A-18 jets that the Australian air force has retired. According to Australian media, the US is favorable of the idea of Canberra arming Kyiv with the F/A-18 jets.
Russian officials have warned strongly against the US and its allies providing Ukraine with Western-made aircraft, but the Biden administration has brushed off the warnings as it’s no longer as concerned about escalation as it was earlier in the conflict.
And by end of September, they’ll announce they have their ACEs led by the Ghost of Kiev.
This past week a Ukrainian trained for two years in America died on his first mission in a MiG-29. If he had an F-16 the result would have been the same.
Wash. is sick and under the influence of some very dark forces. Why was Ukraine any business of NATO and Wash. to begin with? Let’s go back a little and review how this all started, but that’s old news now and people have already forgotten.
Ooooooh, the return of the ‘Washington Boogeyman’ narrative!
Let’s revisit 1994, where the Budapest Memorandum has Russia, the UK, and the US promising to respect Ukraine’s borders. In exchange, Ukraine agrees to give up its nukes. But 20 years later, Crimea is annexed, not by NATO or Washington, but by, wait for it… Russia.
That’s not “old news,” it’s history — and some of us haven’t forgotten. And maybe the question you should really be asking isn’t “Why was Ukraine any business of NATO or Washington?” but “Why does Russia keep deciding Ukraine is their business?”
Russia was previously assured the NATO lines wouldn’t be extended. NATO lied. You know that like you know the real story, so I’m not going to reply to you anymore. It’s way too obvious what’s really going on.
And Russia agreed to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. Its failure to do so explains Ukraine’s eagerness to join NATO.
As for not replying anymore,, that’s your prerogative. The pursuit of truth marches on, with or without you.
That was also before the Nazi forces started trying to exterminate the Russians there. Same thing happened in Texas, read your U.S. history.
And what’s your citation there?
US History, see ‘Texas Independence,’ and ‘Mexican War.’ It’s on the web.
Let’s hope they have better luck with these.
Their tanks are not having a long life on the battle field
“Ukraine Says F-16 Training for Ukrainian Pilots Will Start in July It’s not clear how long the training will take or how many F-16s Ukraine will ultimately receive”
Having flown fighter jet in the American military for most of my 20 year career; I can say from experience that the F-16 is NOT a game changer.
The F-16s will burn the same as the MiG-29s or Leopard tanks which are now depleted. The F-16 is a 47 year old design and even the newest airframes provided to Ukraine will not matter. Maintenance man hours per flight hour will still be very high and parts will be an issue.
Russian integrated SAM defenses will eat up the F-16s just like they did with the MiG-29s and Su-27s. Add to this, the air to air R37M will decimate anything Ukraine flies.
This past week a Ukrainian trained for two years in America died on his first mission in a MiG-29. If he had an F-16 the result would have been the same.
Ukraine has become the dumping ground for obsolete and broken military hardware. Retired generals and admirals are forming small companies to get on the band wagon of selling old equipment to Ukraine. There is no winning for Ukraine only more and more dead bodies.
Can you please post links to unbiased sources that backup your statements?
Hahahaha. Of course he can’t.
The way this usually goes, for me at least:
1. I ask for sources.
2. I’m told “Google it yourself.”
3. I reply something like, “I did, and I can’t find anything saying ____.”
4. The OP posts some random article that doesn’t support their claims.
5. I point out that the random article doesn’t support their claims.
6. Crickets.
😄
Let’s be honest.
Most people don’t go on political chat forums to teach/learn.
They go on to chat and/or vent and/or troll.
I come to these places to kill time, teach and learn.
Though I am guilty of attacking more than I would like.
You seem to keep your cool better than I.
do you doubt all of his statements or just some of them
I doubt all encompassing/matter-of-fact statements from anyone without unbiased evidence to back it up.
Even ‘experts’ can be wrong.
I am not saying he is wrong.
I am simply asking for outside, unbiased evidence to back it up.
Russian Su-35 Fires ‘Never Used Before’ Long-Range R37-M Air-To-Air Missile To Shoot Down Ukrainian Fighter Jet
https://eurasiantimes.com/russian-su-35-uses-never-used-before-r37-m-air-to-air-missile/
Thanks.
But I was hoping for a source other than the MSM.
You seem to be saying that:
a) NATO-trained pilots in F-16’s will make no difference whatsoever over non-NATO trained pilots flying MiG-29’s/Su-27’s.
I do not for one second think they will ‘turn the tide’.
But I do believe that they will offer the Ukrainian pilots a better chance. Even if it is not huge.
b) Also, you typed ‘the air to air R37M will decimate anything Ukraine flies’.
I am not saying that is not so.
However, I remember hearing about how amazing the AIM-65 Phoenix was. Then I read that in a U.S. test against 6 drones. It only shot down one.
Granted – this was a LONG time ago.
But surely you are aware how many generations of AA missiles have been lauded as ‘amazing’. Only to be shown to usually be less than advertised.
So, before I believe such a thing – I need some evidence in the form of a link to a respected, unbiased source.
F-16s are Coming to Ukraine and this will happen.
Jun
25, 2023 – Providing the F-16 to Ukraine was the subject of a hot
debate in the western world. Let’s see what is going to happen.
Table of Contents
2:28 – Ukraine needs What? (platform options and contexts)
6:34 New Air Force… now what
9:42 – Is it the F-16?
9:59 The Black Prince
11:16 The Typhoon Connection
12:10 The Best Looking Option (The French Option)
15:13 The Swedish Option
16:20 Meanwhile, Down Under (Aussie F/A-18A)
17:46 – Yes, it is the F-16 (F-16’s from whom and where)
18:47 From The U.S?
19:50 From Portugal?
20:09 From Greece?
20:37 From Turkey?
21:20 From Poland?
21:50 From Romania?
23:04 What about Belgium?
23:44 A Danish Option?
24:14 Do You See a Pattern?
24:40 Return to the Dutch Option and Norway and what’s immediately available
26:00 – Weapons
26:20 Capabilities
31:50 SEAD/DEAD
33:50 Air to Ground
36:05 – Building an Air Force
37:10 Infrastructure
39:03 Air Bases Vulnerability
39:36 Dispersal
40:10 Pilots
42:43 Ground Crews
44:45 Command and Control
46:43 Is the accelerated transition unrealistic?
48:56 – Operations (Hypothetical)
49:30 A note on the VKS
50:13 Acquiring Air Superiority
52:00 Strings attached
53:27 Russian Reaction
54:21 – Conclusion
In addition to graduating from Top Gun and flying in combat in the Middle East my credentials are extensive. Having flown fighter jets and trained in air combat for over 20 years I would endorse the following hyperlinks.
In addition, my contacts in the Russian military backup most of what we know about Russian SAMs.
Trust me, you do not want to fly a 3rd or 4th generation jet over Ukraine.
And I am ‘a well-hung billionaire with wings.’
No offense, pal.
But surely you know bragging online means little?
I am not saying you are not what you claim. You very well could be.
Probably are, in fact.
But I am not going to just assume you are because you say so.
You are the one “pal” who opened the can of worms asking for verification of facts and alluding to biased unsubstantiated claims. There is no bragging on my part only a presentation of credentials to enlighten you about my status as a Subject Matter Expert on a topic I know in depth.
I could care less if you accept who I am and what I spent a career involved in. Being called out as biased and ignorant about military fighter aviation deserved a reply.
Therefore, I could care less if you accept the credentials presented.
Here is the bottom line: “Don’t ask somebody if he’s a fighter pilot. If he is, he’ll tell you. If he’s not, why embarrass him?”
Consider yourself told! As for being a Billionaire, I wish that I had pursued wealth instead of adrenaline.