According to information received from The Wall Street Journal, Ukraine expects Ukrainian pilots will be ready to fly F-16 combat missions this winter. According to the publication, Ukrainian and Western officials predict that several fighters could be ready for combat missions as early as February 2024.
WSJ sources in Ukraine estimate that the United States can train English-speaking pilots in five months. A group of fewer than 10 pilots with sufficient English skills has been sent for training.
A US Department of Defense representative said that these pilots will be sent directly to Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, where the 162nd Air Wing is based. At the same time, dozens of Ukrainian pilots will begin English language training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
However, Ben Hodges, the former commander of US forces in Europe, believes that officials' anxiety about the level of English proficiency is unnecessary. He emphasized that practical skills are more important than a high level of English proficiency to fly a fighter jet.
"They need to fly an airplane, they don't need to be able to read Shakespeare," he said.
However, in addition to language training, the combat use of the F-16 in Ukraine faces other obstacles, including difficulties in maintenance and training of service personnel.
