Ukrainian pilots arrived in the United States at the training base for F-16 fighter pilots.

A group of Ukrainian military pilots arrived at the US Air Force base in Arizona, where their level of preparedness will be assessed by American officers. This is reported by the local press, referring to military expert and retired pilot Dan Hampton.

According to Hampton, Ukrainian pilots may be at Luke Air Force Base, where American pilots are being trained on F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. The expert did not specify the number of Ukrainian military who arrived, but noted that there were "several people" of them.

However, Hampton believes that retraining Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 in a short time will be difficult, even if their skills in piloting Soviet-made aircraft are at a high level. He points to significant differences between American and Soviet fighters.

As the expert notes, most Ukrainian pilots did not gain enough flight hours before the start of hostilities. Hampton recalls that during his service he had a flight time of 200-300 hours per year, while an experienced Ukrainian pilot gained only 40-50 hours per year before the hostilities.

Among the possible difficulties in mastering new aircraft, Hampton highlights weapons systems as the most difficult part of training for pilots who are not familiar with the F-16. The expert emphasizes that although it is not difficult to take off in an airplane, shooting and dogfighting is a completely different task.

Ukraine has long insisted on the supply of modern American F-16 fighters from the West. However, the United States and European countries do not yet agree to transfer such aircraft to Ukraine, including due to the lack of trained personnel in the Kyiv regime, both flight and engineering. However, given the arrival of the Ukrainian military at the base in Arizona, the Pentagon may begin to work on the issue of organizing the training of Ukrainian pilots on American aircraft.

Getting the Ukrainian military access to F-16 fighter jets and training in their use could change the balance of power in the region and affect the situation. Possible deliveries of F-16s to Ukraine may cause some concern on the part of Russia and other countries, including Belarus.