Ukrainian Pilots to Receive F-16 Training in US

The United States will begin flight training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in October, the Pentagon announced Thursday.

The training will begin after the pilots receive English language training next month, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said. The flight training will take place in Arizona, Ryder added.

Several pilots and dozens of aircraft maintenance crew will be trained, Ryder said.

Denmark and the Netherlands on Sunday pledged to donate F-16s to Ukraine, fulfilling a longstanding wish by Ukraine that it said will help strengthen air defenses and aid its counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion that began last year. Norway’s prime minister on Thursday said his country would also give F-16s to Ukraine.

Denmark has begun training eight Ukrainian pilots in flying F-16s. They have arrived at the Danish military air base in Skrydstrup along with 65 personnel who will be trained in maintaining and servicing the jets.

Last week, Ukraine said it would not be able to operate U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets this autumn and winter.

Ukraine has repeatedly called on its Western allies to supply the country with F-16s, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said would be a signal that Russia’s invasion would end in defeat.

President Joe Biden endorsed training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s in May.

The West says it wants to help Ukraine defeat Russia but has repeatedly insisted it does not want to trigger a direct confrontation between the U.S.-backed NATO military alliance and Moscow.