KYIV, Ukraine — A first group of six Ukrainian pilots is not expected to complete training on the U.S.-made F-16 before next summer, senior Ukrainian government and military officials said, following a series of delays by Western partners in implementing an instruction program for the sophisticated fighter jet.
The timeline reflects the disconnect between Ukraine’s supporters, who envision F-16s as a key tool in the country’s long-term defense, and Kyiv, which has desperately requested that the jets reach the battle space as soon as possible, viewing them as critical for the current fight against occupying Russian forces.
#Ukraine: A Russian BM-21 Grad 122mm multiple rocket launcher was torn apart by the detonation of the rockets loaded onboard after it was targeted by the 55th Artillery Brigade using DPICM cluster projectiles in #Donetsk Oblast.
Another Grad parked nearby was damaged as well. pic.twitter.com/MvAPsA9icH
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) August 10, 2023
