Ukraine plans to send “several dozen” fighter pilots to learn how to fly American F-16 fighter jets, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said on Friday, according to Reuters.

“Everything is being done to start as soon as possible,” Ignat told Ukrainian television, adding that the pilots selected for the training will have combat experience.

“It’s not about training, it’s about retraining,” Ignat added.

Ukraine, which has launched a long-awaited counteroffensive, has repeatedly said it needs new Western aircraft to successfully counter Russian air dominance.

The Netherlands and Denmark, members of NATO, are leading the international coalition’s efforts to train pilots and technical personnel, maintain the aircraft and, ultimately, supply F-16s to Ukraine.

Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Ollongren told Reuters this week that training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots could begin as early as this summer. She said the goal would be to have the curriculum fully operational within six months.

Denmark, which has flight simulators, is a possible location for the program.

Ollongren said that a final decision on Kyiv’s request for dozens of F-16s has not yet been made. The U.S.-backed training program will include Belgium and Luxembourg, she said, and France and Britain have offered to help.

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