Ukraine Establishes Systems for F-16 Fighter Jet Integration

Ukraine has created a structure to comprehensively ensure the continuous integration of the F-16 multirole fighter jets.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said that the news structures of the project will be integrated into the common system of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

Recently, First Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk presented the concept of this integration at a conference in Copenhagen.

The program is expected to have two stages of deployment: “fast track”, designed until the end of 2024, and scaling up phase.

The main areas of work will include:

• support and development of airfield infrastructure (aviation bases);
• comprehensive protection of airfield infrastructure, including the air defense system;
• selection and training of flight crews and other aviation personnel;
• support of the aircraft life cycle and logistics support;
• international communication and other legal, financial, security, and administrative functions.

The development of tactical aviation capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and, at the same time, the rearmament of aviation brigades are among the key priorities for Ukraine.

With the assistance of foreign experts, Ukraine continues to evaluate airfields for multi-role fighter jets.

The United States plans to provide spare parts for the fighter jets that will be transferred to Ukraine.

As previously reported, the first Ukrainian pilots and engineers are now continuing their training on the F-16, which began in August 2023.

The European Training Center for F-16 Fighter Pilots was recently opened in Romania.

The center was created as a result of cooperation between Romania and the Netherlands in partnership with Lockheed Martin and with the support of Denmark.

At the beginning of November, Romanian journalists showed tail numbers of Dutch F-16 fighter jets that arrived in Romania for Ukrainian pilots’ training.