The United States will start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft in October after their English language training in October, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said on Thursday.
"The United States will soon begin training Ukrainians to fly and maintain F-16 fighter aircraft in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine's long-term defenses," Ryder said. "Following English language training for pilots in September, F-16 flying training is expected to begin in October at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, facilitated by the Air National Guard's 100 and 62nd wing."
Ryder went on to say that the Pentagon is anticipating that all the pilots coming to the United States will require some level of additional English language instruction to fly these aircraft.
"We will remain in close consultation with the Danes, the Dutch, and other allies to ensure US training complements the broader coalition training," he added.
Norwegia will become the third provider of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. On Monday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Denmark would send 19 F-16s to Kiev, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Netherlands had pledged to supply another 42. During a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, Zelensky also said that Greece had offered to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets.