The UK is set to launch a training programme for Ukrainian pilots operating Western fighter jets in August.

James Heappey, UK’s Minister of State for the Armed Forces, said that 20 Ukrainian pilots will start basic training in the UK in August.

The UK was the first country to announce that it would train Ukrainian pilots to operate Western aircraft. This initial round of training will take place on the ground; following it, Ukrainian pilots will be able to undertake more specialised training to operate F-16 fighter jets.

On 3 July, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that an unspecified country promised to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in June but has failed to do so due to an error.

On 15 June, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Ukraine's partners were planning to approve a training programme for Ukrainian pilots, engineers and technicians on F-16 fighter jets by July; he explained that the training would take place in a specially created centre in a European country.

Politico reported that Ukraine might start receiving F-16 fighter jets by early 2024.