Ukrainian pilots begin training on F-16 fighter jets in Arizona

A "small number" of Ukrainian pilots have begun training in the US to fly F-16 jets, with training expected to last "several months."

An Air Force spokesperson told CNN that the pilots will train with the 162nd Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard, which is a unit specializing in training international partners to fly the jets.

Training for the pilots began after the pilots completed language training at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center in San Antonio, Texas.

These pilots arrived in the US in late September.

The US is planning on training around 200 pilots once they complete their language training.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has made repeated requests for F-16 fighter jets to aid in the war against Russia, with a coalition of countries led by Denmark pledging to provide Ukraine with the jets and train the pilots.

The US announced in August that it would train a small number of pilots to aid European countries with limited capacity for training.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in August the US would approve the third party transfer of the jets as soon as training is completed, with the US having to sign off on these transfers because F-16 jets are American technology.

“You have my assurances that we will expedite approval of the requisite Third Party Transfer requests in time to enable delivery when the training is completed, including required notification to our Congress,” wrote Blinken in letters to his Dutch and Danish counterparts in August.

Biden authorized the sending of F-16 jets to Ukraine despite stating in 2022 of the action, "that’s called World War III."

"The idea that we’re going to send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews — just understand, don’t kid yourself, no matter what y’all say, that’s called World War III," Biden said.

In January, was asked if he would send F-16s to Ukraine, and responded simply "no." He indicated that he thought a move like that would lead to World War III.