The Challenges Ukrainian Pilots Face in Training on F-16 Fighter Jets
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, General Christopher Cavoli, has addressed the difficulties that Ukrainian pilots face during training on F-16 fighter jets. He noted that transitioning from outdated Soviet aircraft to modern F-16s poses a significant challenge for them.
«Moving from Soviet-era aircraft to fourth-generation fighters like the F-16 is especially tough. We are working on this together with them, but it requires a lot of effort. This will be extremely valuable for them,» Cavoli stated during hearings in Congress.
One of the biggest challenges in training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s is proficiency in the English language, as all instructions and equipment of the aircraft require knowledge of this language. He also noted that some Ukrainian pilots require basic preparation before training on the F-16.
Cavoli also emphasized that Ukraine lacks military aviators to meet the training needs on these aircraft. He pointed out that this limits the number of pilots that can be trained at the moment.
