Only six Ukrainian air force pilots have been fully trained to fly the Vipers, and Ukraine is expected to take a conservative approach to their deployment.

According to the Washington Post, the first few F-16s will likely be used in defensive roles rather than mixing it up with Russian MiGs and Sukhois. In fact, it’s still not known what operating restrictions have been imposed by the NATO countries donating the aircraft.

At first, the F-16s will operate well out of harm’s way, shooting down drones and doing other defensive tasks. Ukraine says the training process for its pilots is an issue because it takes more than six months to get them the language and technical skills they need to operate a Western aircraft using much different systems and control doctrines than the old Soviet airframes they normally fly. And since only the best Ukrainian pilots are selected for F-16 training, their commanders are loathe to lose them because of the gaps they leave in the ranks of experienced pilots.

Despite all the problems, Ukraine is still welcoming the addition of F-16s, particularly their longer-range radars and flexibility and the fear factor they will instill in opposing Russian pilots.

Becca Wasser, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security, told the Post it makes sense for the Ukrainians to integrate the F-16s slowly.

“If you have this exquisite capability, are you going to use it immediately, knowing that there’s a greater risk of it being expended or are you going to withhold it and use it so it has broader strategic value?” Wasser said.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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The aircraft are among those pledged by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway to bolster Ukraine’s military, which has long campaigned for access to the fighter jets following Russia’s 2022 invasion.

• READ MORE: Russia Will Down F-16s Pledged to Ukraine, Defense Minister Vows

The Netherlands have pledged to provide 12 to 18 F-16s for flight training, with the stipulation that they only be flown in NATO territory, The Kyiv Independent reported. The aircraft remain the property of The Netherlands.

“I’m grateful to the Netherlands and @MinPres Mark Rutte [prime minister of the Netherlands] for leading the way in supporting Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Today marks a milestone: five Dutch F-16s have already arrived at the training center in Romania. We keep working together to welcome F-16s into Ukrainian skies as soon as possible.”

Kajsa Ollongren, defense minister of the Netherlands, said Tuesday that the fighter jets had departed and were headed to the Romanian Air Force 86th Air Base near Fetești, Romania.

“The #F16 training centre to train pilots from both NATO countries and Ukraine will open soon,” Ollongren said in a post on X.

Five Dutch F-16s are departing for Fetești airbase in Romania today. The #F16 training centre to train pilots from both NATO countries and Ukraine will open soon.

pic.twitter.com/ltD2ZHayA0

— Kajsa Ollongren (@DefensieMin) November 7, 2023

• READ MORE: U.S. to Lead Coalition to Train Ukraine F-16 Pilots

Ukrainian fighter pilots, including a group in the U.S. training with the Arizona Air National Guard, are preparing to operate the aircraft. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that it will take five to nine months to fully train Ukrainian fighter pilots to fly the F-16.

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