United to win: Czech Republic delivers first F-16 fighter simulator to Ukraine

The Czech Republic handed over the first simulator of the F-16 combat aircraft to one of the Ukrainian tactical aviation brigades.

The commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykola Oleshchuk, announced this on Telegram.

"The Czech Republic handed over the first F-16 fighter simulator to one of the tactical aviation brigades. Its main module is already being tested and prepared for operation by Ukrainian specialists," Oleshchuk said.

He thanked everyone who helped Ukraine to strengthen its aviation component.

"Of course, in addition to the F-16s, we must create a powerful training and material base for our youth. I call on our allies to join this initiative," the Air Force commander said.

Some Ukrainian pilots are already completing training on F-16 aircraft. When the fighter jets arrive in Ukraine, the pilots will be ready for missions.

"Preparation is relentless; this process continues at various levels. We already have pilots who are completing their training on the F-16. As soon as it becomes possible, the F-16 will arrive in Ukraine; of course, these pilots will already be ready to perform combat missions in airspace in the Ukrainian sky," the spokesman of the Air Force of Ukraine's armed forces, Illia Yevlash, said on the air of the telethon.

According to the spokesman, Ukraine needs more than a dozen F-16 aircraft to protect its airspace and repel enemy attacks.

"Such fighters will be able to fight small targets, including cruise missiles," Yevlash added.

It should be noted that the Netherlands plans to start sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this fall, following Denmark, which plans deliveries in the summer.

For reference:

At the end of March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, said Ukraine would receive Western F-16 fighter jets according to previously established plans and schedules.

Three F-16 multi-purpose fighters, on which Ukrainian pilots are to be trained, arrived in Romania on April 17.

It's worth mentioning that Ukrainian pilots trained on F-16 fighter jets in Denmark and the United States are currently practicing the tasks they will encounter in Ukraine, specifically dealing with missiles and drones.

It should be noted that the fighter coalition will transfer a "significant number" of F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine. These aircraft will be equipped with the latest weapons and able to strike behind the front line.