The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has shortened the training times for F-16 pilots.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has managed to shorten the training times for pilots on F-16 fighters by almost three months. This was reported by Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Melnyk.

This has been achieved thanks to the optimization of the process for obtaining a private pilot certificate by cadets as part of the NATO DEEP (Defence Education Enhancement Programme).

'The process of obtaining a private pilot certificate by cadets has been optimized, allowing for a reduction in the training times for F-16 pilots by almost three months. This provides an important operational advantage in the air,' Melnyk said.

As a reminder, 200 Ukrainian aviators have completed basic flight training on F-16 fighters in the United Kingdom. Ukrainian pilots have undergone basic flight, ground, and language training, the British embassy reported.

According to The New York Times, in 2024 Ukraine may be able to use no more than ten F-16 fighters in combat, according to some U.S. officials. However, to establish parity with the Russians in the sky, Ukraine needs to have at least 200 such F-16 fighters.