The first Ukrainian pilots to have undergone intensive training under the guidance of UK Royal Air Force (RAF) instructors have graduated from flight school, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 22 March 2024.
The 10 pilots received basic flying, ground school and language training in the UK, training on Grob Tutor basic trainers in a programme supported by the UK’s Babcock.
With their basic training complete, the Ukrainian pilots will now continue to France to conduct advanced flight training before they progress to training on the F-16 fighter, which Ukraine has chosen to replace its dwindling fleet of Soviet-era aircraft in combatting the Russian invasion.
The UK basic flight training effort, which UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced last year, is a key contribution to the Air Capability Coalition, co-led by the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands, which is helping to build a fighter force to form the cornerstone of a modernised Ukrainian air force. The initiative is scheduled to deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine this summer.
The capability coalitions were established last year to provide a long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine’s armed forces, with the UK co-leading the maritime and drone coalitions.
“I would like to congratulate these brave pilots on completing their initial training here in the UK,” UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps was quoted as saying in an MoD press release. “Thanks to the world-renowned skills of RAF, these pilots have received some of the best training available and are now a step closer to joining the fight against Putin’s illegal invasion.
“The UK has led the way in building Ukraine’s air capabilities over the last two years, enhancing its aircraft with additional equipment, as well as being the first nation to provide long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine,” Shapps added.
