The French Air and Space Force has committed to training 26 Ukrainian military pilots to fly Western F-16 fighter jets within two years, according to the French edition Le Monde.
Training for Ukrainian Armed Forces pilots is ongoing at an undisclosed airbase in southwestern France for security reasons, according to reports.
"In mid-June, the Air and Space Force opened the doors to these trainings for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine, with official training having commenced in March," the French press states.
Le Monde also reports that ten Ukrainian recruits aged between 21 and 23 have joined the training. The pilots are required to complete a course on simulators before being ready to fly a two-seater aircraft with an instructor.
According to French media, the Alphajets training course includes 80 hours of flight time, supplemented by 50 hours on a simulator.
Overall, this accelerated training program has been reduced to one-third of its usual length, with the intensive course set to last six months.