Spokesperson of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ihnat noted that the training of Ukrainian pilots on Western F-16 fighters is going according to plan, flights with instructors are taking place.

"Everything is going according to plan. Every time pilots take to the skies with instructors, I have already talked about this. Perhaps this number of pilots with instructors is becoming large. Next we expect independent flights. I think that in the near future we will find out more. I don’t want to announce anything, else” Ihnat said during the telethon.

Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department expressed its readiness to approve the transfer of U.S.-made F-16 aircraft to Ukraine by a third party. The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway announced their intention to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine.

In October, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said that the first F-16 aircraft could arrive in the Ukrainian Air Force no earlier than the spring of 2024.

On November 13, the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) opened in Romania at the 86th Fetești Air Base, where Ukrainian pilots will undergo training.

The Pentagon later reported that Ukrainian pilots are being trained in the United States and Europe in both F-16 flight operation and maintenance.