The National Guard is set to complete the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets despite the United States running out of funds for additional weapons and assistance to Kyiv. General Dan Hokanson, the head of the Guard, stated that there are enough resources to continue the training that began in October at the Morris Air National Guard base in Tucson, Arizona.
The initiative to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 was announced by President Joe Biden in August as part of a multinational effort to provide Ukraine with advanced fighter jets. However, the Ukraine war fund, which has been used to send billions of dollars in weapons systems and assistance, has run out of money. Congress has been grappling with passing new aid for Ukraine, leading to a halt in the shipment of new weapons packages despite Russia's brutal bombardment campaign.
Although the lack of funding has affected the provision of additional aid, the pilot training has been able to continue. General Hokanson assured that the resources are available to complete the initial training tranche this year. If there is a decision to increase the training program, additional resources will be required to train more pilots and ground support personnel.
This setback comes as the latest legislation, which would have approved over $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, was derailed by a small group of House Republicans due to concerns over U.S.-Mexico border policy. However, there is a renewed effort in the Senate to garner support for a standalone bill that would address the funding needs of both Ukraine and Israel's defense.
Ukraine has long sought fighter jets from the West to bolster its capabilities in the ongoing war. Initially, the U.S. and its allied partners focused on providing other weapons systems, citing cost, concerns about provoking Russia, the extensive air defense systems in Ukrainian airspace, and maintenance challenges associated with the jets. Nonetheless, Ukrainian leaders have argued that the F-16 is a far superior option compared to their existing fleet of Soviet-era warplanes.
To address this disparity, the U.S. has found alternative ways to provide advanced capabilities without supplying the actual jets. For instance, Air Force engineers successfully modified the HARM air-to-surface anti-radiation missile, allowing it to be carried and fired by Ukrainian-flown MiGs. This modification enables the jets to identify enemy ground radars and neutralize them effectively.
As Congress attempts to navigate the funding issue in the face of geopolitical complexities, the completion of pilot training on the F-16s offers a glimmer of hope for Ukraine's aspirations to bolster its defense capabilities. While the allocation of further aid remains uncertain, the ongoing effort to train Ukrainian pilots on advanced fighter jets reflects the commitment to supporting the country's defense needs in the midst of a challenging conflict.
