The first Ukrainian F-16 maintenance specialists have begun arriving back in Ukraine after their training abroad.
The soldiers practiced servicing all the important parts for a fighter pilot, including oxygen systems, helmets, and parachutes on board, the ministry said. The training also included assembling and testing an emergency rescue package.
"The F-16 pilots basically trust their lives to the military personnel who maintain the aircraft. When they take off, they know that they can rely on the knowledge and skills of these people and that the aircraft is in working order," the Dutch ministry said.
Czechia, meanwhile, donated an F-16 simulator to Ukraine earlier this month and intends to send more soon. These are fully modern simulators that are made using an actual F-16 cockpit, hydraulics, etc, for a maximally realistic flight experience.
In related news, Belgium’s latest aid package approved for Ukraine includes funds earmarked for maintenance of F-16’s once they arrive. The arrival timeline of F-16’s in the country is a bit muddy, with a recent report claiming that the first F-16’s may be arriving as soon as early June, while other reports have been saying they will arrive in late summer or even fall. I guess we’ll find out soon enough since June is just days away.