The Ukrainian Air Force will keep its new fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons in safe NATO countries to protect them against Russia. The decision was made due to the fact that there are currently no safe bases in Ukraine. The only option for the Ukrainian F-16s seems to be keeping them away from Russia’s reach. The Falcons will be used to train new personnel and be kept as inventory. Some F-16s are likely to be returned to the mainland when the time is right.

F-16’s Reserved but not Used

The Ukrainian Air Force wants to keep the new F-16s out of combat. Rather, it will be used to train new personnel to pilot it. Many Ukrainian Aircraft have been lost in the war due to bombings; the F-16s may meet the same fate if they are within Russia’s reach. This brand new fleet plays a crucial role in the war so Ukraine can’t risk losing them. It is not announced where these F-16s will be stored. Other NATO countries close to Ukraine, such as Poland or Romania, seem to be likely candidates. During an interview, the Ukrainian Air Force Chief of Aviation, General Serhiy Holubtsov, had this to say on the matter :

“There is a number of aircraft that will go to Ukraine. There are a certain number of aircraft that will be stored at secure air bases, outside of Ukraine, so that they are not targeted here. And this will be our reserve in case of need for replacement of faulty planes during routine maintenance.”

The Ukrainian Air Force currently lacks enough pilots to fly the F-16s. Holubtsov has said that as the number of pilots increases, so will the number of jets in Ukraine. It is unknown to what degree these Falcons will be used. The Ukrainian military has stated that the fleet will help to push back the invasion in cities like Kharkiv. However, the US doubts this claim.

The Problem with Training Pilots

There are currently 30 eligible pilots available to fly the F-16s. Most of these pilots have graduated from the US. Ukraine currently requires more pilots to accommodate the fleet. Ukraine has requested the US to train more Ukrainian pilots at Morris Air National Guard base in Tucson, Arizona. The request was denied as there were other countries in line for training. Ukrainian lawmaker Sasha Ustinova has the following to say on the matter:

“We understand they don’t want to break those contracts, but they could move their American pilots to a different base for training,”

The lack of seats for training has posed a problem for Ukraine. Only 20 pilots are expected to graduate this year, half the required amount. At this rate, Ukraine can’t fully operate the fleet until 2025. The US has repeatedly warned that the F-16s won’t make much of a difference. They will probably be used in low-risk missions against drones. Ukraine has stated that although the fleet may not be able to push back the invasion, they will prove to be an advantage that is currently not available.