By Hugues Maillot
Published 1 hour ago, updated 59 minutes ago
The Pilatus PC-21, on which aspiring pilots are trained. Air defense
The Defense Ministry announced that France would conduct “initial training” before the pilots continued their training in other countries allied with Ukraine.
It was on May 15th, during an interview on TF1 at 8 p.m. “We have opened the door to training Ukrainian pilots. And this with several other European countries ready to do so,” explained Emmanuel Macron, believing that this training could begin “immediately”. Seven months later, the contours of that explanation are becoming clearer. In a text summarizing the 2023 results in terms of support to Ukraine, the Defense Ministry stated that “the first pilots will arrive in early 2024.”
Since the start of its war against Russia, Ukraine has desperately needed fighter aircraft to dominate the air or at least challenge its enemy's air superiority. In July, the US gave the green light for the delivery of F-16s. In reality, the training of Ukrainian pilots on these aircraft had already begun in June 2023. France, which does not have an F-16, began training “military aircrew” on the Mirage 2000* earlier this year, Le Figaro revealed. But no pilots yet.
Also read: War in Ukraine: What are the F-16s really used for?
Training in Salon-de-Provence and Cognac?
In its letter dated December 19, the ministry noted that this time France would offer pilots “initial training” before continuing “their course in combat aircraft through training from our partners.” Therefore, if the Ukrainian pilots follow the classic scheme of a French pilot, they should take part in initial theoretical and practical training at the 701 air base in Salon-de-Provence, where the Initial Military Aeronautical Training Center (CFAMI) is located.) .
In addition to the essential simulator, aspirants could fly “on the Cirrus SR-20 aircraft,” an American four-seat single-engine aircraft, estimates Xavier Tytelman, aviation consultant and former naval aviation crew member. The rest of the course then usually takes place in Cognac, where future fighter pilots fly on Grob or Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft. “France is used to offering initial training to foreign pilots, as it has already done so for Belgians or Singaporeans,” explains the former pilot.
Learn the basics of piloting
This initial training will likely be offered to Ukrainian pilots who have no experience on board a combat aircraft. For example, some airline pilots want to become fighter pilots for war. “We have to teach them the basics of pilot and military skills, such as patrols, low-level flying, the use of radar…” explains Xavier Tytelman. The Ukrainian fighter pilots will be “retrained” directly to the F-16, as they already know all the bombing, patrol flying or air combat techniques that they have experienced, for example, on their MiG-29 aircraft.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: A European training center for F-16 aircraft in Romania
After this initial training, future Ukrainian pilots can be trained to operate F-16s, particularly at Fetesti Air Base in Romania, which will host the international training center in early 2024. The American manufacturer Lockheed Martin of the American device will provide training and maintenance.
* The Dassault Group owns the “Figaro”.
” data-script=”https://static.lefigaro.fr/widget-video/short-ttl/video/index.js” >