Ukrainian troops face critical delays while learning to pilot F-16 jets and won't be ready to fly until next summer

President Joe Biden, who had staunchly opposed sending F-16s to Ukraine, in May reversed course and backed the idea of providing training to Ukrainian troops to pilot the jets.

Harald Tittel/picture alliance via Getty Images

• Ukraine has long called on Western allies to supply F-16 jets to aid in resisting Russian attacks.
• While allies including the US have agreed to provide the jets, pilot training has been delayed.
• Ukrainian troops won't be ready to fly the jets until next summer due to the delays, WaPo reported.

After over a year of pleading with Western allies to provide F-16 jets to aid their resistance against Russian combatants, Ukrainian troops are facing new delays in pilot training that will prevent them from utilizing the specialized planes.

President Joe Biden, who had staunchly opposed sending F-16s to Ukraine, in May reversed course and backed the idea of training Ukrainian troops to pilot the jets. Insider previously reported the UK and Netherlands formed an "international coalition" to procure the jets, and the US authorized its allies to send the F-16s and help train pilots. 

The Washington Post reported Denmark and the Netherlands volunteered to lead the training effort, promising to get Ukrainian pilots in the skies by September but the training has since been pushed back multiple times.

The delays in training mean that Ukrainian pilots will be unable to use F-16s provided by allies until next summer, the outlet reported — unless another training pathway is provided.

A US official told WaPo the Biden administration would bring Ukrainian aviators to the United States for training only if European capacity is insufficient to meet demand.

Trained pilots with F-16s "would be a massive improvement on what the Ukrainian fighter pilots are flying today" and would come with upgradeable features that Kyiv's current jets don't have, Insider previously reported Justin Bronk, a professor at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy, said.

Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive has been dramatically hindered due to allies delaying the delivery of F-16s and essential pilot training, as the country faces a significant capability gap compared to Russian pilots and artillery capabilities, Insider previously reported.

Representatives for Ukraine's Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

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