The French Armed Forces recently announced that the first cohort of Ukrainian pilots has completed Alpha Jet training in France. This training is part of the international coalition’s efforts to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, a request that Kyiv has been making since the early stages of the war. While Ukraine is set to receive nearly 80 jets from other European countries, the training of new pilots has been a key obstacle in expanding Ukraine’s F-16 capabilities.
The French Air Force has committed to training 26 Ukrainian pilots, with the program starting in March and utilizing Alphajets to simulate the instruments in an F-16 cockpit. Additionally, some Ukrainian pilots have also begun training on F-16s in Romania. Despite previous training in the U.S. and Denmark, the latter has announced that it will cease providing instructions to Ukrainian aviators after 2024.
This accelerated training has come under scrutiny after an F-16 crash, prompting discussions about the potential risks of rushing the training program. However, the French Air Force has emphasized its support for Ukraine’s efforts in the war.
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