Ten Ukrainian pilots lack sufficient experience, causing delays in their training, the report quoted the source as saying on Wednesday. Their average age ranges from 21 to 23 years old, the report said, adding that six of them had never piloted a fighter jet before arriving in the United Kingdom, where one of the stages of their training takes place. The other four pilots had only piloted Aero L-39 jet trainers in Ukraine, the newspaper reported.
After six months in France, if the pilots show satisfactory results in their training, they will be sent to a yet-to-be-determined country, where they will complete their training by flying F-16s, the source told the newspaper. Romania is expected to host the final phase of the training, the duration of which is estimated at four months, the report said. Therefore, no Ukrainian pilots trained in Europe are expected to join the fighter fleet before late 2024 or even early 2025, Le Monde reported.
However, the source told the newspaper that the pilots are highly motivated and their progress in the training is linear.
The Ukrainian pilots were first taught the basics of fighter aviation in the UK for six months, the report said. At an air base in southwestern France, the pilots will be trained in various tactics of Western aviation, Le Monde reported, adding that four of them are already in France and another six are expected to arrive soon.
The training of Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s in the United States began earlier, with more experienced military personnel being trained there, the newspaper reported.
The Netherlands and Denmark were among the first countries to agree to supply F-16s to Ukraine. The White House later confirmed that Kiev would receive the US-made jets from third countries once Ukrainian pilots complete the training to fly them. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said The Hague planned to deliver the first batch of F-16s to Ukraine in 2024, although the ministry announced in early January that the delivery would be delayed by up to six months.