Over 180 Ukrainian Fighter Pilots Ready by 2026

Today, the biggest news comes from Ukrainians training in the West.

Czechia has recently approved a domestic program aimed at training Ukrainian F16 pilots, as a part of a larger program training over 800 Ukrainian servicemembers in various specialist roles. Specifically, Czechia will train eight F16 pilots in 2025, who should complete their course by the end of 2026, undergoing 150 hours of flight training at one of the two most experienced foreign pilot training campuses in Europe. Czech defense minister Cernochova commented that if Ukraine is to continue to defend itself from Russian aggression effectively, it needs not only military equipment but also a well-trained armed force, including an air force, and that the Czech Republic recognizes its responsibility in aiding Ukraine in this task.

Czechia is the latest to join the coalition to train Ukrainian F16 pilots; spearheaded by the Netherlands and Denmark, it has now graduated up to 50 F16 pilots in 2024, with an expected 42 in 2025, and 72 in 2026. Additionally, estimates show that France would also complete the training of around 24 additional Mirage pilots by 2026. This gives Ukraine a total of around 188 fighter pilots by the end of next year, not including the hundreds of maintenance personnel that keep those jets flying and operationally ready under high-intensity and frequent combat sorties. This would allow Ukraine to operate around 121 F16 and Mirage fighter jets, over double what military aviation analysts estimate Ukraine would need to make a big difference in the air war, with some speculating it could allow Ukraine to achieve limited air superiority in the current circumstance of an overstretched and already heavily attrited Russian air defense network and air force.

Notably, it is not just pilots being trained by Ukraine’s Nato allies, with over 127,000 soldiers trained by over 30 countries in Europe and North America

The largest contributor to training Ukrainian soldiers is by far the UK, training over 52,000 servicemen and women for Ukraine’s armed forces since Russia’s initial invasion in 2014, with over 30,000 trained since the full-scale invasion between 2022 and 2023.

While numbers have largely been classified since 2024, it is estimated that tens of thousands more soldiers have been trained under the UK’s operation Interflex; even providing basic flight and English language training to over 200 Ukrainian air force personnel as basic training before starting on specialized courses on F16 flight and maintenance.

However, one of the most well-known cases is the Anne of Kyiv brigade trained in France, comprising 4,500 soldiers and fully equipped with French and German weaponry, with the practical aim of creating a Nato mechanized brigade for Ukraine. However, the brigade was surrounded by extensive controversy during its training and deployment, as mismanagement, last-minute leadership changes, and rushed deployment without proper drone warfare training caused the brigade to suffer a high casualty and desertion rate during its initial engagements.

As discussed in previous reports, these issues have since been addressed, and many who deserted have since been allowed back into the unit without legal repercussions, as well as a new revitalized insignia honoring its French roots.

It’s important to note that the brigade is now able to fully implement its advanced training to devastating effect at the battle for Pokrovsk, with Russians not making any advancements in their sector since.

Still, the Ukrainian high command has learned from its mistakes surrounding the Anne of Kyiv brigade, with Zelensky executing an executive order cancelling the formation of new brigades, redirecting resources to support and reinforce existing combat brigades in Ukraine’s armed forces. The training of soldiers in the West will continue; however, instead of becoming individual brigades, these units will be incorporated into existing brigades.

This way, soldiers trained by Nato can share their training and experience with units that weren’t, while soldiers who did not receive training in the West can share crucial combat experience and lessons with those who were.

Overall, Ukraine’s air force numbers are skyrocketing as its Western allies, and now Czechia, are stepping up and committing to aiding Ukraine in the defense of its airspace.

With the sheer number of them being able to make a massive difference in the air, and tens of thousands of soldiers in combat and support roles being trained each year.

Ukraine’s allies are helping turn the tide of battle, not just with equipment, but by providing Ukrainians with the best fighting chance they can get.

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