After 14 months of painstaking negotiations, analysis and media debate, the first dozen US-made fighter jets are in Ukraine, forming a critical component of air defense and soon to be used against Russian missile and drone attacks, both military and political goals. Securing and delivering F-16s to Ukraine was part of the deal with the Western partners.
The other part of the deal is finding pilots and engineers to fly and maintain them. Ukrainian pilots are limited in numbers. Ukraine has pilots flying Soviet-era Mig-29s and Sukhoi-27s, but that experience alone is problematic for operating the more sophisticated Western F-16s. The transition to new state-of-the-art fighter aircraft is inherently time-consuming, even for NATO countries with established partnerships and ready access to information. Countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria serve as examples. Their transition to more advanced F-35s or F-16s takes years, while Ukraine is attempting this transition in just one year.
In addition to providing Ukraine with F-16s, the US, UK, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands have agreed to train Ukrainian pilots for the intended 79 aircraft.
Twenty aircraft are expected to fly into the country by the end of 2024, which means that initially about 20 pilots are currently being trained abroad. Various Western media have expressed concerns about the small number of Ukrainian F-16 pilots and their relative inexperience. In addition, there is the looming threat of F-16 hangars in Ukraine, which Russia plans to destroy, forcing the Ukrainians to devise new ways to secure the aircraft on the ground.
So what could be a quick fix to make better use of these newly acquired F-16s? Engaging foreign pilots to fly F-16s in Ukraine. A possible answer was expressed recently, on August 15, after the visit of US Senators Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) and Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) to Kiev. Their visit came amid Ukraine’s surprise invasion of Russia’s Kursk region.
According to ET exclusive information, senators approved a plan to recruit retired F-16 pilots from NATO member states to facilitate Ukraine’s ability to use these aircraft immediately while pilot training continues her. This idea had earlier been proposed by some American war veterans, such as retired US Air Force Maj. Dan Hampton, who, in an interview, offered to defend Ukraine’s skies, citing his expertise in F-16s and his willingness to defend the democracy (and who are in contact with the signatory).
Hundreds of well-trained F-16 pilots could potentially volunteer for service in Ukraine, claimed Jeffrey Fisher, a retired US Air Force captain with 30 years of military experience. He personally knows some Americans who are actively lobbying the US government to allow foreign pilots into Ukraine. Countries around the world have operated F-16s for decades, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Israel, Egypt, South Korea, Poland, Greece and Romania. It is estimated that a potential legion of foreign pilots in Ukraine could be an international effort rather than just an American one. However, the decision still rests in the hands of the US government and NATO allies.
Information from the signatory indicates that already 2-3 retired Greek F-16 pilots are interested in flying aircraft in the skies of Ukraine, which is fighting for survival against Putin.
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