According to two US officials quoted by CNN, a group of Ukrainian pilots is in the United States to evaluate the Arizona National Guard.

The 162nd Fighter Wing, which operates F-16 fighter jets, is based at Tucson International Airport and trains international crews on the fourth-generation jet, officials said. The squadron’s website says it has trained pilots from 25 countries that currently operate the F-16.

One of the officials said that 10 more Ukrainian pilots may come to the US for the same assessment and evaluation.

The pilots are in the U.S. for “familiarization” and “routine activities” between the U.S. Air Force and Ukrainian pilots, a U.S. military official said last weekend. However, the official said there are “no updates on the F-16 for Ukraine” and no immediate plans to increase the number of Ukrainian pilots sent to the US.

“This event allows us to better help Ukrainian pilots to become more effective pilots and better advise them on how to develop their own abilities,” the official said in a statement.

Senior Ukrainian officials have requested US fighter jets, saying they urgently need them to defend against Russian missile attacks and drones.

But U.S. and allied officials have greeted the push with skepticism, saying the planes would be impractical because they require significant training and because Russia has extensive anti-aircraft systems that could easily shoot them down.

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