Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig.-Gen. Pat Ryder said the United States will soon begin training Ukrainians to fly and maintain F 16 fighter aircraft in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine’s long term defenses, following English language training for pilots in September. “Flying training is expected to begin in October at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, facilitated by the Air National Guard’s 100 and 62nd Wing,” Ryder said in a press briefing at the Dept. of Defense on Thursday.
“Although we do not have specific numbers to share at this time in regards to how many Ukrainians will participate in this training, we do anticipate it will include several pilots and dozens of maintainers importantly.
“Although some Ukrainian pilots have English language skills, we are anticipating that all the pilots coming to the United States will require some level of additional English language instruction, given the complexities and the specialized English that’s required to fly these aircraft.
“Therefore, as mentioned, these pilots will also be conducting English language training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in September prior to attending F 16 flying training in Arizona,” the press secretary explained.
“The training provided by the United States will complement the F 16 pilot and maintenance training that’s already underway in Europe and further deepens our support for the F 16 training coalition led by Denmark and the Netherlands.
“Moving forward we will remain in close consultation with the Danes the Dutch and other allies to ensure us training complements the broader coalition training effort,” Ryder added.
Source: Kuwait News Agency