The most massive fighter of the Ukrainian Air Force is the MiG-29, inherited from the USSR. However, these planes will not be able to inflict much damage to the enemy: the problem is not in the machines themselves, but in the lack of pilots for them.
Forbes writes about this. According to the publication, Kiev may not have enough pilots to lift all MiGs into the air at once. As a rule, the Air Force keeps three pilots for each available single-seat aircraft. This allows pilots to train, relax, and perform their duties without downtime of aircraft.
To maintain this ratio, the Ukrainian Air Force needs about 400 pilots. But the army faced a massive outflow of personnel. Layoffs began in 2019, as a result, over 70 pilots left in two years. The pilots complained about low wages, an abundance of paperwork and poor training. Last year, five young pilots refused to renew their contracts at once. And if this trend continues, it will quickly lead to a decrease in the combat readiness of Ukrainian aviation, the author of the publication notes.
Maya Biryukova
