The FINANCIAL — The first cohort of Ukrainian pilots to receive training from the Royal Air Force are now learning to fly F-16 fighter jets in Denmark, having completed a basic programme of training in the UK, Ministry of Defence reported.
In August 2023 the Netherlands and Denmark announced they will give F-16 warplanes to Ukraine, in a long-awaited announcement that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an important motivation for its forces, which are embroiled in a difficult counteroffensive.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said on Wednesday that going by statistics Russian air defense systems will shoot down all F-16 fighter jets promised to Ukraine in a matter of 20 days.
The RAF began delivering flying and English language training in August as part of the UK contribution to the international Air Force Capability Coalition for Ukraine, which sees allies and partners working together to bolster Ukraine’s air capabilities.
The group was formed of six experienced Ukrainian combat fighter pilots who received aviation-specific English language training to increase their ability to engage with coalition training and support.
A further ten Ukrainian trainee pilots took part in the language training and remain in the UK to continue with practical basic flight training, as well as to learn important skills such as aviation medicine and centrifuge training.
“I am proud of the support the Royal Air Force is providing to the next generation of Ukraine’s combat air pilots and ground crew, who will be the first line of defence in protecting Ukraine’s skies”, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.
“The UK has been instrumental in building Ukraine’s air defences since Putin launched his full-scale invasion, providing hundreds of missiles and munitions, as well as radar and weapons systems”.
“I would like to emphasize that 37 aircraft (that were shot down by Russian air defense in the past month) is almost twice the number of F-16 aircraft that are guaranteed to Ukraine. That is, with such work of our air defense system, it is about 20 days of work,” Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu.
“While Ukraine was highly vulnerable to attack from Russian aircraft, drones, and missiles in the early months of the invasion – with support from the UK and our allies, its Armed Forces are now able to intercept and destroy the overwhelming majority of incoming ordnance – protecting their civilian population and vital infrastructure.
“Together we’re now going further by ensuring Ukraine has a modern air force in the future, formed around the highly capable fourth-generation F-16 fighter jet. Combined with training from the world-leading RAF, this is a significant step forward from Ukraine’s current Soviet-era capabilities.
The programme is designed to give trainee pilots the skills required to advance to the next phase of training on fighter jets with partner nations and bring future Ukrainian pilots closer to a NATO standard approach to flying.
Pilots undergoing the basic flight training scheme are conducting practical lessons in Grob Tutor aircraft with experienced RAF instructors, learning general handling procedures, instrument flying, medium and low-level navigation, and formation flying.
The trainees join more than 53,000 Ukrainians who have received training in the UK since Putin first ordered the invasion of Crimea in 2014. Last month, the Defence Secretary announced the UK will aim to train a further 10,000 Ukrainian recruits in the first half of 2024 as part of Operation Interflex.
Alongside the pilot training, dozens of Ukrainian aircraft technicians are also receiving English language training, geared towards engineering.
“Ukraine highly values the pilot training that the UK and other partners are providing, to help us prepare for operating F-16s in Ukraine. It is a rapid and effective programme to equip Ukrainian pilots with the skills they need in the war against Russia”, Defence Minister of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, said.
“Once they have completed their training with the RAF, pilots will be trained by another European nation on advanced flying training. This will prepare them for training on the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, overseen by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States, which lead the Air Force Capability Coalition.
The Prime Minister confirmed the UK’s intent to support the Air Force Capability Coalition earlier this year with basic training, as the UK does not operate the F-16 aircraft Ukraine has selected to develop its future air force around”.
The UK will continue this support to Ukrainian pilots and ground crew in 2024.
The trainees join more than 53,000 Ukrainians who have received training in the UK since Putin first ordered the invasion of Crimea in 2014. Last month, the Defence Secretary announced the UK will aim to train a further 10,000 Ukrainian recruits in the first half of 2024 as part of Operation Interflex.
Beyond providing a broad range of training programmes, the UK continues to support Ukraine to push back Russian forces. As part of the £4.6bn worth of UK military support, we have provided long range missiles, western main battle tanks, and logistical support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions.
Like the F-16, the Sukhoi Su-35 is a multi-role fighter. A twin-engine, single-seat aircraft, it is described as “Russia’s signature heavy fighter bomber” by the RAND Corporation think tank.
The Su-35 incorporates some of the elements of Russia’s advanced Su-57 Felon fifth-generation jet, the UAC added. The Su-57 is likely only used by Russian forces to strike Ukraine from Russian territory, for fear of damaging or losing Moscow’s prized supersonic combat jet, the British Defense Ministry said in early January.
The Su-35’s maiden flight took place in 2008, the UAC said, and is designed to attack ground and surface targets from large distances, regardless of the time of day or the weather conditions.
Back in November, a report by the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London said the Su-35S firing long-range missiles had been “highly effective and lethal against Ukrainian aircraft near the frontlines throughout the war.”
Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) had gained around 350 modern aircraft, including Su-35S fighters, in the previous 10 years leading up to the start of the war, the think tank said in a separate report in March 2022.
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