A Ukrainian official has claimed that a political decision by Washington is damaging operations against Russia due to the slow pace of F-16 pilot training.
From: Euromaiden Press BY MARIA TRIL
The United States is “deliberately delaying” training for Ukrainian pilots on the F-16, Ukraine claims, which is why it will not have enough pilots trained by the end of the year, The Times reported on 18 June.
Oleksandra Ustinova, head of Ukraine’s special parliamentary commission on arms and munitions, has accused the United States of making “excuses” for failing to train sufficient numbers of Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet pilots.
Ustinova claims this delay means Ukraine will likely have only 20 fully trained F-16 pilots by the end of the year despite the expected arrival of the first jets later this year.
According to Ustinova, “So far, we’re [Ukraine – ed.] going to have fewer trained pilots than fighter jets.”
The Times reported that “only eight Ukrainian pilots” are currently being trained in Tucson, Arizona.
Voice of Ukraine 