Plans and programs: training of Ukrainian pilots for the F-16
US Air Force F-16C fighter
Several NATO countries are going to transfer F-16 fighters to the Kyiv regime from the presence of their air forces. In addition, they will have to organize the training of Ukrainian pilots for such equipment. Gradually, the details of proposals and plans of this kind are becoming known. At the same time, there are also doubts about the possibility of conducting a full-fledged training, as a result of which the pilots will be able to effectively use the new technology.
Not only planes
The "Fighter Coalition", ready to provide Ukraine with American-made F-16 aircraft, was formed in May-June. It includes several NATO countries that have a certain fleet of such equipment. For the sake of helping the Kyiv regime, they are ready to reduce the potential of their own Air Force. The exact volumes of deliveries have not yet been determined, but we are already talking about dozens of aircraft.
Foreign partners will also have to solve several complex problems associated with the operation of the transferred fighters. They will have to find the best sites for their deployment, provide the necessary funds for operation, and ensure the supply of spare parts and consumables. In addition, it is necessary to organize the training of personnel.
As has been repeatedly reported, Ukrainian pilots will fly the transferred aircraft. To this end, the assisting countries are planning to launch a separate training program. Preparations have now been launched and the first results are expected within the next few months.
Plans for the technical composition have not yet been specified. Perhaps he will also be recruited among the Ukrainian Air Force servicemen. However, one cannot exclude the hiring of foreign specialists with the necessary experience - depending on the various features of the plans, the specifics of the equipment base, etc.
As far as is known, direct training of Ukrainian personnel to work with the F-16 has not yet begun. At the moment, the countries participating in the program are compiling a training program and practicing it on individual pilots. It is assumed that in the near future it will be possible to move to full-fledged training on the required scale.
Forecasts and plans
In this situation, not only the availability of pilots is critical, but also the timing of their training. Now the "coalition" is trying to create a training program that will allow you to fully train pilots in the shortest possible time. Due to various ideas and tricks, the estimated preparation time was reduced to several months. However, the program has not yet been approved, and its final version may provide for other terms of preparation.
The first estimates of the possible duration of training appeared a few months ago, when the transfer of the F-16 was only considered as one of the possible scenarios. Then various media and experts said that it could take up to a year to train pilots. Thus, even with the earliest start of this process, the first combat-ready units in the Ukrainian Air Force could appear only in 2024.
In mid-May, several US media outlets reported that earlier in the spring, the US Air Force had assessed training processes and made a new forecast. So, for 12 days, two Ukrainian pilots underwent retraining and examinations according to NATO standards. It was found that they are generally capable of mastering foreign technology, but there may be difficulties in a number of important areas. It was also determined that the process of retraining a pilot with flight experience can take no more than 4-5 months.
The training program
Now the “coalition” is drawing up a concrete plan according to which Ukrainian pilots will be trained. The Netherlands will reportedly take the lead in these processes. Other participants in the program will also contribute and help the learning. The direct participation of the United States has not yet been reported, but it is known that they generally approve the proposals of European partners.
According to published documents, the training of Ukrainian pilots will be divided into several stages. First of all, they will have to learn English at a level corresponding to the operation of the new materiel. Then they will undergo initial flight training at aviation technology of NATO standards. Only after that will begin full-fledged training in flight and the use of the F-16 fighter. It is not known how long this process will take. However, they are going to train pilots with experience, which should reduce the overall time.
Greek F-16Cs
The first groups of Ukrainian pilots will study in Western European countries using their existing infrastructure. In the medium term, these processes will be transferred to a specially created structure. So, in one of the Eastern European states they want to open a training center. When he starts work, at what pace he will be able to release pilots and whether he will cope with his tasks is still unknown.
It is curious that only the training of pilots is mentioned in the reports of official bodies and the press. The issues of training technical staff are not discussed at all or are mentioned in passing. Perhaps this topic is simply not considered worthy of full coverage, or there are special plans to do without training technicians.
The main difficulties
The process of training Ukrainian personnel has not yet begun, and so far the relevant programs are being drawn up. However, it is already clear what difficulties foreign instructors and their Ukrainian students will face. It is to be expected that a certain range of problems will arise during the learning stage, and some of them cannot be overcome. In the distant future, they may even have a negative impact on the combat performance of pilots on the F-16.
First of all, the notorious language barrier is a problem and a potential threat. All documentation for the F-16, as well as all information plates on the aircraft and related units, are in English. No one will translate them into Ukrainian. Accordingly, a high level of foreign language proficiency is required from the flight and technical staff, which allows them to fully operate the equipment, incl. during the fight and the corresponding stress.
F-16I - modification for Israel
The development of new aircraft from a technical point of view is also not an easy task. Pilots will have to study both the F-16 itself and all its instruments, as well as learn how to use them correctly. With similar functions and capabilities, the American aircraft and its avionics are fundamentally different from Soviet-made fighters. It will not be easy to retrain for it and master new principles of work at the proper level.
With all this, there is a problem of time. Foreign pilots spend several years learning the F-16 and perfecting their skills while serving. At the disposal of Ukrainian cadets will be no more than a few months. It is unlikely that this will be enough for the full development, development of new skills and abilities. As a consequence, the Kyiv regime should not expect retrained pilots to perform outstandingly well. At the same time, we are talking about preparing for hostilities - and an insufficient level of training is directly related to risks.
Subtotals
Thus, in the context of deliveries of foreign fighters to Ukraine, a curious situation has developed by now. Several countries have decided to transfer F-16 aircraft from their own air force and are now looking for specific aircraft for shipment. At the same time, issues of training Ukrainian flight personnel for the operation of such equipment are being worked out.
At the same time, work in both directions is still far from the desired result. Accordingly, the beginning of the retraining of Ukrainian pilots is shifting to the right, and with it the timing of the F-16 entering service. For the Kyiv regime, the situation remains difficult, and the prospects for its development are generally predictable. And American fighters do not look like a factor capable of changing this course of events.
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