The timeline reflects the disconnect between Ukraine’s supporters, who envision F-16s as a key tool in the country’s long-term defense, and Kyiv, which has desperately requested that the jets reach the battle space as soon as possible …
Select date
Defunct “Counter-Offensive”, Non-Existent Ukraine Air Force: F-16 Training for Ukrainian Pilots Faces Delays and Uncertainty. Washington Post
All Global Research articles can be read in 51 languages by activating the Translate Website button below the author’s name.
To receive Global Research’s Daily Newsletter (selected articles), click here.
Click the share button above to email/forward this article to your friends and colleagues. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to our Telegram Channel. Feel free to repost and share widely Global Research articles.
***
A report entitled F-16 Training for Ukrainian Pilots Faces Delays and Uncertainty (Washington Post) reveals that the training of Ukrainian pilots for F-16 jets Made in America will be delayed for almost a year, until next Summer.
The crucial issue has to do with the timeline of the Ukraine War and the ability of Ukrainian Forces to confront Russia.
At this juncture, the so-called “counter-offensive” is defunct. At present, Ukraine’s Air Force is virtually non-existent. And US-NATO have so to speak been (quite deliberately) “dragging it out”.
What will the Ukraine war theater look like in a year from now?
According to the WP, Ukraine’s defunct Air Force –which was wiped out by Russian forces in early March 2022– is slated to be “partially restored” at the earliest by Summer 2024.
Michel Chossudovsky, August 10, 2023
***
According to the Washington Post’s report (emphasis added):
“A first group of six Ukrainian pilots is not expected to complete training on the U.S.-made F-16 before next summer, senior Ukrainian government and military officials said, following a series of delays by Western partners in implementing an instruction program for the sophisticated fighter jet.
President Biden, after denying Ukrainian appeals for the F-16 for more than a year, reversed course in May and said he backed the idea of training Ukrainian pilots on the jets. ….
But after the start of training was pushed back several times, Ukraine will now probably have to endure another year without the fighters, … which officials in Kyiv have predicted would provide a significant military edge amid a slow-going counteroffensive and help better protect civilians against Russia’s regular missile and drone strikes.
Ukraine’s commander in chief, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, has criticized Western partners for expecting Ukrainian forces to conduct a large-scale counteroffensive without modern air power. Without fighter jets like the F-16, Ukrainian officials say, they can’t compete in the sky.
Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines have said that low-flying Russian helicopters have been successful in attacking their ground forces in part because Ukraine is unable to threaten them in kind.
Just six pilots, about half a squadron, will go through the first round of training, according to two Ukrainian officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to address a sensitive matter. Two other pilots have been identified as reserve candidates.
Though the pilots are already fluent in English, the officials said, they must first attend four months of English lessons in Britain to learn terminology associated with the jets. …
*
Note to readers: Please click the share button above. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to our Telegram Channel. Feel free to repost and share widely Global Research articles.
