Russia Will Down F-16s Pledged to Ukraine, Defense Minister Vows

The DOD estimates it will take five to nine months to fully train Ukrainian fighter pilots to fly the fighter jets.

Friday, November 03, 2023 at 01:37 PM ET

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Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have pledged to donate F-16s, like the one seen here, to the Ukrainian Air Force, which has sought access to the aircraft since Russia’s invasion in early 2022. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

Russia's Defense Minister claims that F-16 fighter jets pledged to Ukraine will not last a month in combat due to Russia's strong air defense capabilities.
Ukraine is preparing to receive F-16s from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, with pilots currently training in the U.S. and a training center in Romania expecting its first aircraft by mid-November.
The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that F-16 pilot training will take five to nine months, with the timeline dependent on individual pilot skill levels and English language proficiency.

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The long-awaited F-16 fighter jets pledged to the Ukrainian Air Force won’t last a month in combat once they’re received, according to Russia’s top defense minister.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu made the claim during a conference call Wednesday, saying that the country’s air defense systems shot down 37 Ukrainian aircraft in the past month—almost double the number of F-16s pledged to Ukraine, Russian news agency Tass reported.