In Ukraine, where the tense conflict continues, news of the gradual arrival of Western F-16 fighter jets is creating some optimism. However, as The New York Times reports, this optimism may be tempered by limitations related to the number of qualified pilots.
Ukraine will be able to use no more than ten F-16s this year due to a shortage of pilots.
The publication writes that the number of aircraft that Western countries will transfer to Kyiv this summer is unknown. However, according to American officials, the United States, the Netherlands and Denmark are expected to train about 20 pilots this year.
Two pilots are usually assigned to one aircraft so that they can take turns participating in sorties, resting, training, etc. Thus, this year the Ukrainian Air Force will be able to use at most about ten F-16s in combat missions.
Also, according to the publication, a certain number of fighters will be stored at secure air bases abroad, as the Air Force command expects an increase in Russian attacks on airfields with the arrival of F-16s in Ukraine. They will become a reserve in case of the need to replace faulty aircraft during scheduled maintenance.
