What You Need to Know: Eight more Ukrainian pilots graduated from the UK-based Royal Air Force Elementary Flying Training (EFT) program, bringing the total to 200, as part of Ukraine's preparation to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The EFT program, using GROB-115 propeller-driven aircraft, is the first phase in a three-stage program led by the U.S., Denmark, and the Netherlands. Graduates then proceed to advanced training on Alpha jets before transitioning to F-16s at Romania’s European F-16 Training Center.

Bad News for Russia: NATO allies have pledged over 90 F-16s to Ukraine, aiming for two full squadrons by early 2025, alongside possible future deployments of Mirage 2000s and Gripens.

Ukrainian Pilots Advance F-16 Training with UK Support – 200 Graduates Now Ready

This week, eight more Ukrainians training to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon graduated from a UK-based program, bringing the total number of pilots who have earned their wings to 200.

"The latest graduation of Ukrainian pilots from RAF Elementary Flying Training took place, attended by Armed Forces Minister @LukePollard & Ukrainian Ambassador General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The next step is advanced fast jet training & conversion to F-16 with partner nations," the Royal Air Force announced on Tuesday via a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

From Elementary to Alpha and Beyond

The RAF doesn't operate the F-16, but it has been a supporter of the international program that provides Kyiv with both pilot and technical training that will prepare the aviators to fly the all-weather multirole aircraft.

This begins with the RAF's Elementary Flying Training (EFT) program – which the Kyiv Post described as "the first phase of a three-stage training program under the Ukrainian Air Capability Coalition (UACC), led by the United States, Denmark, and the Netherlands."

Would-be aviators who go through the EFT spent approximately 70 hours with the German-made GROB-115 propeller-driven aircraft. The aircraft is currently used by the RAF and Royal Navy as the first flight trainer. After graduating from the EFT program, pilots then take part in more advanced training that is currently being provided by the French Air Force.

The six-month program will see the future aviators train on the twin-seat light attack Alpha jet, which has been outfitted with a modified instrument panel that resembles the cockpit features of an F-16. Trainees will spend about 80 hours in the aircraft, as well as an additional 60 hours in the simulator. The training will move forward fast – literally. While the GROB-115 has a maximum speed of just 140 mph, the Alpha can hit speeds of 560 mph.

After completing their time on the Alpha, the pilots will then head to Romania, which is home to the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) at the Fetesti Air Base, and undergo another six to nine months on the F-16. The first mission-ready Ukrainian F-16 pilot completed training at the EFTC in July. The program has set a goal to train three pilots for each F-16 provided to Ukraine.

To date, more than 90 of the 4+ generation fighters have been pledged by NATO members Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. Kyiv is looking to be able to operate two full squadrons of 40 fighters each of the F-16 by early 2025.

Though Ukraine also received its first F-16s in July, the pace of the training on the Fighting Falcon was questioned after one of the first pilots was killed in a crash in August. The pilot was defending his homeland from a Russian drone and missile strike, but pilot error was blamed for the crash. As a result, Ukraine has shifted its focus to training younger pilots who haven't flown the legacy Soviet-era aircraft.

Other Aircraft Could Soon be Deployed to Ukraine

Future training may need to expand beyond the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Earlier this month, Paris announced that it would supply Kyiv with an undisclosed number of Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters, while Sweden has also been considering a plan that could see it send the Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter.

Ukraine could soon have the air power to take control of its skies, but it will first need the pilots trained and ready.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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