House Democrats urge Pentagon to expand F-16 training for Ukrainians
A group of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives is calling on the Pentagon to expand training for Ukrainian pilots on the F-16.
This was reported by Politico with reference to a letter from 15 US lawmakers, Ukrinform reports.
As noted, the lawmakers, led by Congressman Adam Schiff, support Ukraine's request to train ten more Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 this year and ask US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to grant the request.
"The request comes at a critical juncture in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, where the deployment of F-16 aircraft has the potential to significantly influence the outcome of the war... By the end of the year, Ukraine will have more F-16 aircraft than they will have qualified pilots to fly them, this situation threatens to undermine the strategic advantages these aircraft could provide Ukraine," the letter from the U.S. lawmakers reads.
They argue that NATO allies have extensive training programs and could accommodate Ukraine's request for more training. According to the group of Democrats, the Pentagon "can provide the most appropriate way" to expand the program.
"This effort not only enhances Ukraine’s ability to utilize the F-16s effectively but also reinforces the broader coalition’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity," they added.
Last year, US President Joe Biden approved the transfer of aircraft from Norway, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine, but the training of pilots faced logistical problems, the publication writes.
As reported by Ukrinform, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, said during a briefing following a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense that the United States, as the co-chair of the fighter jet coalition, is doing everything to provide Ukraine with F-16s this summer.
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