Ukrainian pilots start training on F-16 fighter jets in Romania

Romania's Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, and his Dutch counterpart, Kajsa Ollongren, are set to inaugurate the European F-16 Fighter Training Center on the Fetești military airbase on Monday, November 13.

The center's opening commences the start of training sessions for Ukrainian pilots. The training, expected to last six months, will take place at the facility located 150 kilometers east of Bucharest. Lockheed, the company manufacturing the F-16, will provide instructors and technical staff for the training, DW reports.

On October 10, during a press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the opening of an F-16 fighter jet training center in Romania, where Ukrainian pilots would start mastering the aircraft as part of the "first wave."

Moreover, on November 7, President Zelensky revealed that the first batch of five F-16s sent to the Netherlands for Ukrainian pilot training had already arrived at the training center in Romania. The Chief of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands, General Onno Eichelsheim, announced the intention to send all promised F-16 fighters for Ukrainian pilot training to Romania by the end of the year, totaling between 12 and 18 aircraft.

Background on the F-16s for Ukraine

The United States approved the transfer of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine. National Security Advisor to the President of the United States, Jake Sullivan, stated that Ukraine would receive the aircraft after completing pilot training.

In the Netherlands and Denmark, an agreement was reached on August 20 to transfer F-16 aircraft to Ukraine after Ukrainian pilots completed their training.

Specifically, Ukraine will receive 42 American F-16 jets from the Netherlands and 19 aircraft from Denmark. The training of Ukrainian pilots is set to begin as soon as possible. On September 15, Belgium joined the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.

In 2024, the Netherlands plans to transfer the first batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

According to the US Air Force, at the end of October, a "small number" of Ukrainian pilots began training in the 162nd Aviation Unit of the Arizona National Guard on F-16 fundamentals.