As predicted in my February 10/23 column in the Western Standard (Looks like the West will give the Ukrainians F-16 jets), Ukrainian pilots will soon arrive at Morris Air National Guard base in Tucson, Arizona..Once there, they will receive intense training on the Lockheed Martin-made F-16 Fighting Falcon, consisting of three training phases: ground, simulator and flight. .After that training is completed, pilots will leave the US and fly some more in Europe before entering Ukraine, at which time commanders will make a decision on whether they’re ready for the show. .The length of that initial training, however, will depend on each pilot’s flying experience..Speaking to reporters at the Air & Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber conference, the director of the Air National Guard (ANG) Lt. Gen. Michael Loh said some pilots could complete the course in as little as three months, though less experienced pilots would need longer, Breaking Defense reported..“They’ll take anywhere from — depending on their level of proficiency in fighters and how much they have — anywhere from three months to up to as long as nine months at Tucson to get ready,” he said at the conference in National Harbor, Md.. F16F16 .The MiG-29 to a Block 50 or Mid-Life Upgrade Viper isn’t a big step in performance, experts say, but it’s a huge leap in technology — the weapons and avionics..Despite being 40 or 50 years old, the Falcon’s systems are still complex..“In the case of the F-16 you have a lot of options for different training programs, different electronic countermeasures, different engines, different everything — it’s like Lego," Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot "Juice" told The War Zone in December 2022. ."The technical capabilities are very close; in general, I don’t say that the F-16 is better as an aircraft itself, but it may be the most realistic choice for Ukraine, considering capability, availability, affordability and most importantly sustainability.”.An ANG report on the training of two Ukrainian pilots that leaked this summer estimated that Ukrainian airmen could only need four months to finish training in the F-16, putting pressure on the Biden administration to approve transfers of the fighter, Breaking Defense reported. .Loh said those two pilots, whose performance informed the Guard’s assessment, were on the more experienced side and had decent English skills. .Those without language or flying prowess will take closer to his nine month estimate, he said, which is the standard timeline for any regular candidate. .“For the ones that are currently their fighter pilot cadre that are experienced, that are flying day-to-day sorties over there, that are defending their homeland — I think three months is absolutely realistic,” he said..In August, the Biden administration greenlit F-16 donations from other countries, though officials have since warned getting the jets ready will take time — precluding the F-16s from joining Ukraine’s sluggish counteroffensive this year. .Logistics support, as well as trained maintainers, also need to be in place, Breaking Defense reported.. F-16F-16 .Ukrainian military leaders reportedly anticipate some pilots could be ready to fight by February 2024, a timeline that would seem to align with Loh’s estimates..Asked whether Ukrainians will learn how to employ weapons such as AMRAAM, he replied “we will train them to do the full multi-role spectrum of what we can expect in their theater of conflict.”.As explained in my February 10 column, the full F-16 Basic Course, also known as the B-Course, is typically a nine-month process for pilots fresh out of pilot training. Broadly it consists of academics, time in the simulator and live sorties..In addition to B-Courses, the Formal Training Units (FTUs) also run transition courses for pilots with experience in other jets — these are typically far shorter. .In the case of the B-Course, an initial four weeks of academics teaches students about the systems of the F-16 and emergency procedures..This is followed by around eight simulator sessions covering basic instrument flying and hands-on experience of the various emergency procedures before they progress to the two-seat F-16D for four live flights before a first solo mission..The following sorties are designed to build experience ahead of a check ride with an instructor, during which the students are required to meet standards for instrument flying and handling emergencies..At this point, the new pilot is considered to be qualified to fly the F-16 in all weather conditions and can move on to night flying with night-vision goggles (NVGs)..Students step through an air-to-air phase including basic fighter maneuvers, air combat maneuvering, and tactical intercepts before they get into the air-to-ground phase with low-level flying, and surface attack tactics..An F-16 pilot told The War Zone: “In a matter of months it’s possible for a non-familiar aviator to be reasonably safe in a jet like the F-16. The systems are easy to operate, the jet is easy to fly and it’s very intuitive to learn. .“The Viper is an easy transition for an experienced fighter pilot from a pure flying perspective, no matter what type they are coming from.”.“You turn it on, you push the throttle up, you go and fly. .“The flight control system neutralizes any big mistakes, you really can’t over-stress the jet unless you’re really trying to. .“You can’t take it out of controlled flight easily — there’s a lot of instances where it takes care of you with a layer of safety to where even a non-proficient operator can fly safely — some including enhanced ground proximity warning systems (EGPWS) – so that’s the first bridge they have to cross.”.While some officials have downplayed how much of a difference the jets could make in the war in Ukraine, Loh took a far more optimistic view of their capabilities, stating that “I think it can definitely be a game changer.”.In many ways, the US-made F-16 is the ideal platform. It’s multi-role: it can provide air cover for troops, attack ground targets, take on enemy planes and intercept missiles..One former F-16 pilot told The War Zone: “Reflecting on the California Air National Guard’s historical close partnership with the Ukrainian Flankers, even before the conflict kicked off, a majority of Ukrainian missions were flown at low-level, down below 1,000 feet.”.“Now with a ludicrous surface-to-air missile [SAM] overlay across Ukraine, low-level flight is realistically all that Ukrainian fighter pilots can execute without incurring a huge risk, regardless of what non-stealth platform they are employing. .“In Ukraine right now we are talking about operating in an environment that is completely different from the norm.”.Already, some 50 jets are lined up to be donated to Ukraine, a quantity that Loh said would have an impact..“That’s a good three fighter squadrons worth,” he observed. “I think it is enough.”
