France promises to train 26 Ukrainian F-16 pilots in two years
The French Air Force has pledged to train 26 Ukrainian military pilots in two years. This was reported by the French newspaper Le Monde on Monday, June 17.
The article notes that 10 Ukrainian pilots, aged 21 to 23, are currently training in southwestern France. The name of the air base where the training is taking place is not disclosed for security reasons.
According to Le Monde, some of the pilots "have never flown," while others have experience flying a Czech-made L-39 Albatros training aircraft.
The newspaper also reports that Ukrainian pilots are training on Alphajets fighter jets, not the F16s they are supposed to fly in Ukraine.
However, the advantage of Alphajets is that they are equipped with a dashboard that imitates the F16's.
Le Monde writes that the training in France is the "culmination" of a long process that began in May 2023 at the Ramstein meeting.
On March 22, the UK government announces that the first 10 Ukrainian pilots have completed basic flight, ground and language training on F-16 fighter jets in the UK and are moving on to advanced flight training provided by the French Air Force.
On May 23, Politico wrote that the first group of Ukrainian pilots had graduated from training on American F-16 fighter jets at a military base in Arizona.
On June 6, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the country would send Mirage 2000 aircraft to Ukraine.
The Mirage 2000 is a French multi-role fighter developed by Dassault Aviation in the 1970s.
Author - Ihor Lontkivskyi 17.06.24
