The U.S. will now train more young Ukrainian F-16 pilots instead of experienced ones, according to the WSJ.
It turns out that cadets are more open to the Western style of training, while experienced military personnel tend to face challenges with the English language.
However, training a young pilot takes more time, meaning that Ukraine is unlikely to have a full squadron of F-16s—20 planes and 40 pilots—by spring or summer 2025.
Currently, eight experienced fighter pilots are finishing their F-16 training in Arizona and are expected to arrive in Ukraine in early 2025.
