First Ukrainian Pilots Complete Training On F-16s In USA

Ukrainians were trained at the 162nd Air Force Base of the National Guard in Arizona.

The first group of Ukrainian Armed Forces pilots have completed training to fly American modern fighter jets F-16 at the military base in Arizona in the USA. Now they are travelling to Europe to undergo additional training.

This is stated by Erin Hannigan, a representative of the Air Force of the National Guard of Arizona, reports the publication Politico.

Ukrainians were trained at the 162nd Air Force Base of the Air National Guard in Tucson.

"The first group of Ukrainian pilots have completed F-16 training at the Arizona military base, which is a crucial step toward sending modern American-made fighters into Ukraine's skies," she said.

At the same time, Hannigan did not announce the number of Ukrainian pilots who have completed F-16 training, nor did she say the exact date of their graduation for "security reasons".

According to the publication's sources, the pilots are now on their way to Europe for additional training.

Hannigan said in late February 2024 that the first group of four Ukrainian pilots would finish their F-16 training programme by the summer of 2024. She said one group began F-16 training in mid-October 2023 and another in January 2024.