F-16 Aircraft Could Protect the Ukrainian Critical Infrastructure Facilities: It Would Take Six Months to Train Pilots, It Is Only a Matter of a Political Decision — Iurii Ihnat

If Western partners provide Ukraine with F-16 aircraft, pilots will need about six months to learn how to fight on them. Iurii Ihnat, Speaker of the Air Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, made this statement during the briefing at the Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform.

“The F-16 aircraft can destroy cruise missiles and suicide drones: this would protect critical infrastructure from massive missile attacks, because the air defense systems we have now cannot cover the entire territory of the country. Where it cannot cover, either mobile fire teams or fighter aircraft operate. The issue of pilot training is really complicated: it’s easy to learn to fly, but pilots told me that they could master it during approximately six months. The same as engineers. Different opinions exist. The Ukrainian authorities and all Ukrainians would really appreciate it if they got them much faster. This requires infrastructure, pilots, training of engineers and a political decision of countries that can influence this,” Iurii Ihnat said.

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