Europe's F-16 Training Center in Romania Boosts Ukrainian Pilots' Skills

Europe has opened a training center in Romania to teach Ukrainian pilots how to operate F-16 combat planes. The center, inaugurated by Romanian and Dutch defense ministers, aims to increase interoperability among allies and provide practical support to Ukraine's aviation coalition. Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium have pledged to provide F-16s to Ukraine, with the first jets expected to be delivered by April 2024. The training center will initially provide a refresher course for F-16 instructors before training Romanian and Ukrainian pilots, with the aircraft only flown in NATO airspace. The US, along with the Netherlands and Denmark, will lead the coalition in training Ukrainian pilots, with Lockheed Martin contributing to training and maintenance.