US 'Committed' to F-16 Training for Ukrainian Pilots, White House Says
VOAAug 11, 2023
The US will start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in October, the Pentagon has announced this week.
The move reportedly comes amid US concern that training programs hosted by European nations could reach capacity. Washington approved the transfer of training material to a coalition of 11 European countries last week, allowing them to conduct the training programs.
The US is doing everything it can to get F-16s in the hands of Ukraine as soon as possible. However, it's a complicated process that not only involves training pilots but also ensuring that the maintenance and logistics processes are well established. Nonetheless, the US is moving swiftly.
Russia's overwhelming air superiority has already caused Ukraine substantial problems in its counteroffensive. The longer the US and international partners delay, the more Ukraine will suffer and the more emboldened Russian Pres. Putin will feel.
There's a 4% chance that there will be a deadly clash between the US and Russian armed forces before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.