Ukraine's pilots are now learning to fly Western F-16 fighter jets. So, for Ukraine's allies, it was welcome news that Ukraine's pilots are finally flying F-16 fighter jets. "Some pilots are already undergoing air training with an instructor on combat aircraft," Ignat said during a nationally televised broadcast, according to the outlet. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine has sought F-16s for its arsenal of fighter jets since the early days of Russia's invasion. Defense experts previously told Insider that adding AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles could give the F-16s in Ukraine an "incredible capability" for close-range battles.

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Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Yuriy Ignat, Ignat, John Baum Organizations: Service, Russian, Ukrainian Air Force, Defense, US Air Force, US Navy, Netherlands Armed Forces, AIM, US Department of Defense Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, United States, Romania, Dutch, Romanian