Neither Russia nor Ukraine achieved air superiority, and U.S. congressmen threatened to send F-16 to Ukraine
U.S. Congressman Republican Adam Kinzinger and Democrat Chris Hoolahan, both former officers of the U.S. Air Force , the two introduced a bill that would require training Ukrainian F-15 and F-16 pilots in the United States for combat operations.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, members of Congress explained the urgency of this step, saying that the U.S. military has always emphasized in war that it first seeks to establish air superiority. It is clear from public sources that neither Ukraine nor Russia has established air superiority. It is believed that the United States and its NATO allies can help Ukraine play its role and give Ukraine air superiority in this war.
This proposal is nothing new. As early as a few weeks after the Russian special operation began, US Secretary of State Blinken made it clear that the possibility of emergency delivery of F-16s to Ukraine was being actively discussed. First consider from the Polish Air Force, which has 36 F-16Cs. However, Poland regarded these F-16Cs as treasures and refused to transfer them to Ukraine. It was only willing to transfer the MiG-29 fighter jets manufactured by the former Soviet Union.
To be more convincing, a group of the most experienced Ukrainian fighter pilots came to the United States in order to hold an emergency meeting with representatives of the Pentagon , the U.S. State Department, and a bipartisan group of Ukrainian legislators.
Key: How long does it take to train an F-16 pilot?
Still, many in Washington are left wondering whether it's worth starting deliveries of F-15s and F-16s to Kiev ? Training takes at least a year. And Russia's special operations are probably over. However, there are also Ukrainian pilots who boast that they can learn to fly an F-16 in just two or three weeks. This is of course bragging. The average annual flying time of a Ukrainian Air Force pilot is only a pitiful 32-64 hours. In Russia, the same indicator is "more than 100 hours, in NATO countries, about 200 hours.
American media believe that the basic course of the F-16 school at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona takes about nine months and includes theoretical training, simulators Training and actual flying. However, even before the trainees arrive at Luke, they must undergo six months of basic flight training in a T-6 aircraft, seven months in a T-38, and study in an AT-38. Basic knowledge of fighter controls and advanced maneuvers in six to eight weeks. Overall, if you train in the US on the F-16 in normal mode, it will take at least a year and a half.
The F-16 is the easiest and cheapest for the US Air Force. It is one of the most equipped fighter jets in the world because it can bomb and dogfight. Of course, it takes at least about six months to train a student-level pilot on the F-16. .
An experienced US Air Force pilot, joining the discussion on this issue on social networks, said: "There is a difference between 'flying' and 'using the aircraft in combat'. Preparing to fly independently doesn't take much time. These Ukrainian pilots were already pilots. So for them, it's just a piece of cake. Depending on the complexity of the F-16 aircraft compared to the MiG-29HT5, the basic flying portion can be completed in about two weeks.
But this is not combat flight. Combat fliers must learn how to use the new radar and weapons effectively. Therefore, total retraining will take at least 3-6 months depending on the specific model of F-16 aircraft. However, if the ability to attack ground targets also needs to be added, rather than just air combat, then it will take much longer.
Let's try to summarize: even today the F-16s will be transferred to Ukraine before the beginning of next year.
Well, it may be that by the end of Russia's special operations, Ukrainian pilots have not yet learned to control the F-16 in air combat.
