Ukraine is now recruiting retired F-16 pilots to bolster its ranks, according to a senior U.S. lawmaker.
Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) said this week that ex-Viper pilots can likely get a combat job if they want one.
Ukraine Looking for Retired F-16 Pilots
The country received its first few Vipers in late July and expects it will have around 20 fighter pilots ready for combat by the end of the year.
Key Takeaways:
- Ukraine is actively recruiting retired F-16 pilots, particularly from NATO nations, to quickly get its newly acquired fighter jets into combat.
- This recruitment drive is due to the slow pace of training Ukrainian pilots, creating a significant shortage for the F-16 aircraft already received or expected.
- By year-end, Ukraine anticipates having approximately 20 F-16s ready but only about half the number of qualified Ukrainian pilots needed to operate them.
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