EU still waiting on the US to formally approve Ukrainians’ F-16 training – Politico

byYuri Zoria

15/07/2023

2 minute read

An F-16 wing. File photo: Turkish Air Force

EU still waiting on the US to formally approve Ukrainians’ F-16 training – Politico

A coalition of 11 nations led by Denmark and the Netherlands that pledged to train Ukrainian pilots are still waiting on the US to formally approve the program before instruction on American F-16 fighter jets can begin, according to US and EU officials involved in the discussions, Politico reports.

At the recent NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, European officials said they hoped to begin the program in August in Denmark, with another training center to be set up in Romania, but Europeans’ requests to the US have already been in the pipeline for weeks.

Politico says the US State Department should formally sign off on the request to transfer instruction manuals, flight simulators, and other materials associated with the jets. US President Joe Biden promised to approve the program, but the formal request “is still being reviewed,” according to Pentagon spokesman Lt-Col. Garron Garn.

Pentagon acquisition chief William LaPlante told Politico that the Pentagon has to “make sure we’re ready to go with the technical manuals being translated and the tech data packages and a sustainment plan” with any export or training package before the transfer occurs.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

F-16

Will the West continue to support Ukraine?

Know what moves the world.
Stay informed with Kompreno.
Get quality journalism from across Europe.

Special discount

for Euromaidan Press readers

We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!