However, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said that the training is planned to begin during the summer in Europe
WASHINGTON, July 26. /tass/. Washington and its allies have not yet been able to finalize issues related to the training of Ukrainian pilots in the use of American F-16 fighter-bombers, because of this, Kiev's receipt of aircraft is delayed. This was reported on Tuesday by the American newspaper Politico.
As noted in the publication with reference to US officials, "Western partners have yet to reach agreements on a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the promised fighters." Although Denmark and the Netherlands lead a coalition of 11 states in support of the training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so far no country has publicly pledged to provide aircraft for the program, the material says.
According to the publication, the parties will have to decide exactly where the Ukrainian pilots will be trained. One option is for them to be trained in the American city of Tucson (Arizona). According to the newspaper's sources, "this idea has not received much development."
Another plan provides for sending American military pilots to Europe to train Ukrainians "somewhere outside the country." According to two American officials, none of the options is excluded, but a final decision has not yet been made. "We are working with partners and allies to determine the most practical way to implement this plan," one of the sources explained.
The publication clarifies that "the coalition has already taken a number of steps to begin preparations." According to one of the sources, "the aerospace contracting company Draken International has started hiring retired military pilots to train Ukrainians." It is expected that the training will take place at the facility that is currently being built in Romania. Another "training center" is likely to be established in Denmark.
The article contains a comment by Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. She said that the European allies of the United States hope to begin preparations during the summer, most likely in Europe. She also noted that the UK authorities intend to start basic flight and language training of Ukrainian pilots in a few weeks. "As for any aircraft deliveries or additional deadlines, I have nothing to tell you today," Singh added.
As the publication emphasizes, "preparations for the use of the F-16 cannot begin until the State Department officially approves the transfer of related training materials, including operating instructions and flight simulators." So far, this permission, required in accordance with export regulations, has not been given.
According to US officials, the fighters will arrive no earlier than spring, the article says. One of the American officials explained that "perhaps by the end of the year some pilots will perform training flights," however, in his opinion, the Ukrainian side is unlikely to start using the F-16 until spring.
Earlier, the coordinator for strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, said that the United States intends to transfer F-16 fighters to Ukraine by the end of 2023. He also admitted that they would not change the course of hostilities.
As US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall stated at the end of May at a meeting with the Washington group of military observers, of which TASS is a participant, the upcoming transfer of F-16 fighters by the West to Ukraine will not radically change the course of hostilities in favor of Kiev. As Kendall put it, the delivery, which will take "at best" several months, "will not fundamentally change this equation."