The Department of Defense will train Ukrainian pilots on advanced fighter aircraft as soon as next month, a spokesman announced on Thursday.
First, the Ukrainian pilots will undergo an English language course, expected to begin in September, to teach them how to communicate about the F-16s at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. They will then start the F-16 training at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, which is slated to begin in October and will be facilitated by the Air National Guard's 162nd Wing.
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"The Department of Defense is announcing today that the United States will soon begin training Ukrainians to fly and maintain F-16 fighter aircraft in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine's long-term defenses," Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said. "Following English language training for pilots in September, F-16 flying training is expected to begin in October at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona."
He did not specify how many Ukrainian pilots would be coming to train in the U.S. as opposed to other allies that are also training them, though he noted, "Several pilots and dozens of maintainers." Ryder said the U.S.'s training "increased the capacity across the coalition," referencing the participating allies.
There's an expectation that every pilot "coming to the United States will require some level of additional English language instruction, given the complexities and the specialized English that's required to fly these aircraft," Ryder added.
Ukrainian and U.S. officials have acknowledged that the former will be unlikely to have them available to use on the battlefield before the end of the year. Officials have specifically noted they will not help them during their current counteroffensive.
About a week ago, the Netherlands and Denmark announced their intent to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter aircraft. Days earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken provided officials from both countries with assurances confirming the U.S. would expedite approval of transfer requests for F-16s to go to Ukraine as soon as the pilots are trained.
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Ukrainian leaders have requested fourth-generation aircraft from their Western allies for months, as both sides have unsuccessfully fought for air superiority throughout the war.
It wasn't until this spring that President Joe Biden changed his mind on their request. Ukrainian officials suggested their counteroffensive, which has yielded less than ideal outcomes for Kyiv, would be more likely to succeed if they were able to establish air superiority over the battlefield.