The Royal Air Force (RAF) has completed training another group of Ukrainian pilots, bringing the total number of graduates of its Elementary Flying Training program to 200 since it started in 2023.
Training in the UK is the first phase of three. The pilots flew for about 80 hours in a Grob-115 general aviation aircraft with a top speed of 220 kilometers (137 miles) per hour.
They were instructed on aircraft handling, low-level navigation, advanced formation flying, and instrument-based flying, in addition to English language training for improved interoperability with NATO air forces.
Did you know the UK has now trained 200 Ukrainian pilots?
Today I attended the graduation of the latest pilots from the RAF’s training programme. These pilots will soon be flying Ukrainian F-16s.
Britain will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes 🇬🇧🇺🇦 https://t.co/wbsdmXfARF
— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) October 22, 2024
After the RAF training, the graduates will undergo advanced flying training from the French Air Force using the Alpha Jet aircraft.
The light attack jet and advanced jet trainer has a modified instrument panel resembling the F-16 fighter and a top speed of over 900 kilometers (559 miles) per hour. The pilots will train on it for around 80 hours and another 60 hours on a simulator, according to the Kyiv Post.
The last phase of their training will be at the European F-16 Training Center at the Fetesti Air Base in Romania, where they will fly the US-designed F-16 aircraft, which has a top speed of over 2,100 kilometers (1,305 miles) per hour.
Allies for Ukraine
While the UK does not operate F-16s, it has strongly supported Ukraine’s ability to boost its defense capabilities in its ongoing war with Russia through its established Air Capability Coalition together with the US, Denmark, and the Netherlands in 2023.
Apart from technical training, Kyiv also received its first batch of F-16s from allies in August this year.
However, this initiative has met some issues.
One of the US-designed F-16 jets crashed and killed the pilot while repelling a Russian air strike shortly after it was delivered to the country.
Meanwhile, retired US Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Davis explained that the F-16s donated by its Western partners are outdated models that may not be as effective against Russia’s combat jets.
