OUR Ukraine Its pilots are estimated to need about half a year of training to learn how to fly Western fighters such as the US F-16 as Kyiv ramps up efforts to get such fourth-generation aircraft to fend off a Russian invasion.

This week Germany, United States of America and other countries have announced they will supply heavy tanks to Ukraine, which now hopes the West will also equip it with long-range missiles and fighter jets.

Air Force Representative Mr. Yuri Ikhnat, said the F-16s could be the best option to replace Ukraine’s current fleet. According to Ikhnatthe military currently uses four types of Soviet-era aircraft, which means that these aircraft are older than the country itself.

“Pilots say they have no problem flying the F-16, they can get the hang of it in a couple of weeks. Fighting on these planes is something completely different (…) Pilots say they could do it “in about six months,” he explained.

Ukraine is currently using its aircraft to intercept and attack Russian positions.

US Deputy National Security Adviser to the White House John thinner he said MNBC On Thursday, the United States will “very carefully” discuss the idea of ​​buying fighter jets with Kyiv and its allies.

OUR Ikhnat he explained that in addition to pilots, it would also be necessary to train aeronautical engineers and other specialists. He also said that in Ukraine, in various regions, work has already begun on the creation of airport infrastructure for Western aircraft.

OUR Alexei DanilovSecretary of the National Defense and Security Council, He published a Twitter video showing a Western fighter jet taking off with the caption: “Soon to Ukraine.”

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}