Problems curb hopes
Setback in the F-16 fighter jet initiative for Ukraine
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Whether it's tanks, artillery ammunition or combat aircraft: the West supplies Ukraine with weapons, but many things take a long time. This is devastating for soldiers and civilians. Now there is again sobering news from the F-16 project.
According to a report in the US newspaper Politico, only a total of 20 Ukrainian F-16 pilots are expected to complete their training by the end of this year. The medium relies on a former employee of the US Department of Defense. He said this represents half of the 40 pilots required to operate a full squadron of 20 jets. Such a squadron may not come into being until the end of 2025, the source said.
In addition, training capacities for Ukrainian pilots are said to be a problem. The training places are urgently needed because the expensive training is lengthy and Kiev now has many firm commitments from the West about the delivery of fighter jets. In the worst case scenario, there will not be enough pilots for the F-16 aircraft for a long time.
One of the biggest problems right now: According to Politico, Ukraine has 30 pilots who could immediately begin training in the USA. However, the United States told Kiev that there were not enough places in the training program in Arizona to accept more than twelve candidates at a time. There are also said to be problems in the programs in Denmark and Romania.
According to the report, the USA trains F-16 pilots at several bases, but pointed out its obligations to other countries that would be eligible for training. Ukrainian MP Sasha Ustinova said: “We understand that they do not want to break these contracts, but they could move their American pilots to another base for training.”
Probably little F-16 effect this summer
The first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots had recently completed their training in the USA and, according to the US Air Force, went to Europe for further training. They should be ready to fly combat missions against Russian air forces in the summer. The Dutch Defense Ministry also said in May that 10 Ukrainian soldiers had completed training to maintain F-16 fighter jets.
Nevertheless, there are now many indications that Ukraine will initially only be able to deploy a few jets to defend against the Russian invasion this summer. Accordingly, the effect that the fighter jets have on the battlefield is likely to be small for the time being.
In total, a powerful air force requires around 160 combat aircraft, Ukrainian President Zelensky said in an interview on Portuguese television last summer. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhailo Podoljak said it would take “60 to 80 F-16 fighter jets to secure the airspace well.” A number that appears realistic based on Western commitments – if there are enough fully trained pilots.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense recently announced that it wanted to deliver at least 24 fighter jets, and Ukrainian President Zelensky in the past even spoke of up to 42. Denmark had announced 19 aircraft. The first six were actually supposed to be delivered around the turn of the year, but that was delayed until this summer.
Norway and Belgium will also hand over F-16 jets to Kiev. Deliveries from Brussels should “start at the end of this year,” as Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib told the Bel RTL radio station at the end of May. In total, Belgium has announced 30 fighter jets by 2028.
