UK marks 200 Ukrainian pilots completing RAF training

The UK has reached a significant milestone in its support for Ukraine, with 200 Ukrainian pilots now having completed training with the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The latest group of pilots graduated from the RAF’s Elementary Flying Training programme, in a ceremony attended by Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard and Ukrainian Ambassador General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Luke Pollard MP shared the achievement, noting, “These pilots will soon be flying Ukrainian F-16s. Britain will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

Did you know the UK has now trained 200 Ukrainian pilots?

Today I attended the graduation of the latest pilots from the RAF’s training programme. These pilots will soon be flying Ukrainian F-16s.

Britain will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes 🇬🇧🇺🇦 https://t.co/wbsdmXfARF

— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) October 22, 2024

The pilots will now move on to advanced flying training provided by the French Air Force before transitioning to F-16 fighter jets, further strengthening Ukraine’s air capabilities.

This effort is a key UK contribution to the Air Capability Coalition, co-led by the United States, Denmark, and the Netherlands, which is building an air force of modern fighter jets to bolster Ukraine’s defence. Established last year, these capability coalitions are part of a long-term commitment to support Ukraine’s armed forces, with the UK co-leading the maritime and drone coalitions. The creation of a modern air force will significantly enhance Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian aggression, acting as a strong deterrent and improving its overall military response.

Although the UK does not operate the F-16 fighter jets chosen by Ukraine to modernise its air force, British leaders have consistently advocated for an international programme to provide training and aircraft.

As part of their RAF training, the Ukrainian pilots were taught aircraft handling, low-level navigation, advanced formation flying, and instrument-based flying. They also received English language training to improve their interoperability with NATO air forces, as English is the standard international flight language.

With advanced flying training to be completed in France, the pilots will soon progress to learning to fly the F-16 jets. The trainees are part of the broader UK effort to support Ukraine, which has seen over 60,000 Ukrainian personnel trained since Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014, including 36,000 recruits trained since 2022 through Operation Interflex.

One of the Ukrainian pilots expressed gratitude for the training previously, saying, “I have enjoyed being in the United Kingdom and being part of this training programme. The course has been challenging and enjoyable, and it has made me a better pilot. I am grateful to the UK for its support to Ukraine, and I am personally grateful to the Royal Air Force instructors for preparing me for the future.”