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 to accelerate the deployment of its newly acquired fighter jets.
- This recruitment drive aims to address a pilot shortage, as F-16s are arriving faster than Ukrainian pilots can be trained.
- Senator Lindsay Graham confirmed this initiative after meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, stating they would look for willing retired fighter pilots from NATO nations.
- The goal is to get the F-16s operational sooner to deter Russian long-range attacks by forcing them to release weapons from a greater distance.
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