According to the Air Force spokesman, Col. Yuriy Ignat, Ukraine is transiting to the F-16 in an emergency, as no other country in the world has done.
When Ukraine can get the first F-16
Yuriy Ignat notes that active work is underway: pilots are being retrained, infrastructure is being adapted, temporary shelters are being built, and runways are being improved.
We cannot build F-16 infrastructure on a large scale according to NATO country standards, but the planes can still operate from what we have. Currently, no one knows precisely when Ukraine will receive the F-16s. We are eagerly anticipating their arrival as soon as possible.
Yuriy Ignat
Air Force spokesperson
He noted that Ukraine is switching to the F-16 as an emergency, as no other country in the world has done.
However, according to Ignat, there is no need to count on the fact that Ukraine will immediately defeat Russia on the battlefield after receiving fighter jets.
However, you understand that initially, a small group of pilots will arrive, and begin working in the sky, and, of course, Russia will react accordingly. But the process of training pilots and increasing their numbers in Ukraine will gradually unfold, — stressed Yuriy Ignat.
What else is known about the F-16 provision to Ukraine
The Air Force spokesman also noted that our pilots will not receive 40, 70 or 120 aircraft simultaneously.
In addition, it is indicated that these will not be the latest modifications.
Despite this, the process continues, and pilots are trained — all this continues acceleratedly.
Since it [F-16 — Ed.] is a multi-role aircraft, they must also practise tasks involving ground and surface targets. Therefore, our pilots are doing this in an emergency manner, as I mentioned — in an accelerated mode, because the usual retraining course takes 2 years. And we are doing it much faster, — added Ignat.
