A quickening pace of high-level and behind-closed-doors meetings last week continued to shape the nascent Ukrainian F-16 program, but this recent progress aside, it is increasingly evident Ukrainian Air Force-piloted F-16s will not be flying missions until early 2024. Group Editor Marty Kauchak investigates.
“Before the war, everyone in Ukraine thought simulation was a game,” said Michael Obod, an entrepreneur whose Ukraine-based Skiftech builds tactical simulation programs. “But they are very serious now and understand how to utilize it.”
The US and other nations continue to provide a broad range of war materiel to Ukraine. Belatedly, the oft-discussed transfer of F-16s to Ukraine is gathering speed. Group Editor Marty Kauchak explores the situation.
A few days ago, the plate tectonics of the Ukraine-Russian war quickened as the US and its allies gave policy-level approval to transfer fourth-generation F-16s to Ukraine. The implications of the new missions the Ukrainian air force may be able to attempt with these fighter aircraft are significant.
The Ukraine-Russia war and other fast-moving global events are compelling the US and its allies and partners to continue investments in learning technologies across their training enterprises – and concurrently strengthen their live training programs.
This year, MS&T's Dim Jones is happy to report, Covid constraints had been lifted, and the Omega conference attracted over 150 delegates from 14 nations.
Defence ministers from the 27 EU countries this week discussed the possibility – but have not yet reached unanimous agreement – to launch a military training mission for Ukraine.
The invasion of Ukraine demonstrates that large-scale military training exercises are not, as some think, merely an excuse to fire up the afterburners, chew up farmland with tank treads, and feign interoperability because you purchased weapons from the same sources.