Ukrainian F‑16 pilots face steep learning curve, limiting air roles

The highest-ranking US Air Force General in Europe, James B. Hecker, has once again addressed the issue of Ukrainian F-16 pilots. During his speech at the AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference, he pointed out that Ukrainians have not been using Western fighters for complex air operations since the first F-16 crash in Ukraine. There could be several reasons for this decision.

"The pilots are new to it, so they're not going to put them at the riskiest missions," said Gen. Hecker. "Ultimately, that’s a Ukrainian decision. But I think that’s the approach that they’re taking," he added. According to him, Ukrainian pilots, who previously flew only MiG-29 and Su-24 fighters, lack extensive experience in Western tactics and are still learning how to operate the F-16. Therefore, it is unlikely that they will participate in risky missions in the near future.

Hecker previously noted that the several dozen F-16 fighters that Ukraine will receive (around 79 aircraft) will not change the war's course. However, it will allow for better use of ammunition provided by Western allies, including the United States. It is worth recalling that the first F-16s arrived in Ukraine at the end of July 2024. Kyiv did not disclose how many aircraft were involved, but the media reported six planes then.

At the same time, there were reports that only six Ukrainian pilots were trained to fly F-16 fighters. Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak explained that such a combination would only allow for operations of a very episodic and very limited nature. "Because six pilots can have 12 flights in a day's fighting. That's very little. The Russians will still hold the air superiority," said the former ground forces commander.

The problem related to the lack of aircraft and an adequate number of properly trained pilots became evident at the end of August 2024, when Ukraine lost the first of the F-16 fighters delivered to it. Importantly, experts claimed that the most probable cause of the crash was a possible pilot error, who had to operate under difficult conditions, and not the plane being shot down by the Russians.

The small number of trained pilots and accelerated training may limit Ukrainians' use of F-16 fighters. It is worth recalling that pilots transitioning from MiG-29s train for about two years. Additionally, their training occurs in peacetime conditions, not in the face of ongoing war.

Switching to Western aircraft is a gigantic revolution for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, even those receiving A and B versions. It must be remembered that Ukrainian MiG-29, Su-27, and Su-24 aircraft are machines that structurally and equipment-wise correspond to the standards of the early 1990s, so it is a completely different technological level.

The F-16 is not an aeroplane but a platform, a system that requires much more involvement from the pilot. The pilot ceases to be just a flyer cooperating with a ground command centre. Instead, he becomes part of a larger team with much greater situational awareness.

A short, six-month training period does not allow pilots to fully gain the required skills and experience to utilise F-16 fighters in combat fully. Added to this is the mentioned small number of delivered fighters. So far, European countries have delivered only a handful of the promised F-16s, so Ukrainians will not be particularly risking losing these aircraft on the front lines. They will focus more on using them to defend their airspace against cruise missiles and drones, first to tighten this air defence and, secondly, to ensure F-16 pilots gain skills and experience in using these aircraft.

Some experts believe that Ukrainians are keeping F-16 fighters away from the front lines to avoid a situation in which the Russians could gain valuable information about the aircraft and their weaknesses.