First Ukrainian F-16 Pilot training progresses toward combat aircraft: Report

NEW DELHI: Ukraine's F-16 pilots are now in process from practicing on flight simulators to training in real combat aircraft, Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson said to a local media. This progress brings the country closer to using the US-made fighter jets against Russia's air force.
"We anticipate that the initial cohort of F-16 pilots, currently undergoing training on flight simulators, will soon shift to the cockpits of training and combat aircraft," Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said on Sunday, according to the translation of The New Voice of Ukraine.
"We're currently in the process of transitioning to combat aircraft," he added, per the outlet. "Flights will be conducted with an instructor and will conclude with independent piloting after this training."
Reuters reported that Ukrainian pilots began training on these coveted aircraft in late August, with some traveling to countries like the US and Denmark.
Ukraine's request for F-16s was answered this summer though they had called out for F-16s since the earliest days of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The F-16 can serve various purposes, including defending against Russian drone attacks, targeting Russian defensive positions, and potentially engaging in dogfights with Russian planes, depending on the weapons and pilot capabilities.
Insider's Chris Panella reported that the plane isn't a magical solution to the conflict, but it's a significant upgrade to Ukraine's stock of Soviet-era jets.
The F-16 can be used in various ways, such as defending against Russian drone attacks, bombardings, attacking Russian defensive positions on the front lines, and, though it's a riskier and less likely scenario, engaging in aerial combat with Russian planes. Its effectiveness largely depends on the weapons it carries and the skill of the pilots operating it, Insider’s Jake Epstein reported.
According to Politico, A group of Ukrainian pilots recently traveled to Tucson, Arizona, to test their English-language skills and join the US Air Force's primary training hub.
A recent video from Ukraine's Air Force showed that even pilots who have remained in Ukraine are learning to fly F-16s through virtual-reality training when they're not on combat missions.
While the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine is expected in early 2024, there are still several steps to be taken.
A coalition of 11 countries, led by the US, is providing training in flying and maintaining the aircraft to ensure their effective deployment, Politico reported.
(With inputs from agencies)