Ukraine's Prospective F-16s Seek Support from Turkish Aircraft Maintainers
If Ukraine had aircraft maintainers working on aircraft from the US or even other western countries, the transition to the F-16 might be a bit easier, but transitioning from Russian systems will be difficult in many ways.
From the late 1980s to the present day, Turkey has consistently had either the first or the third largest F-16 fleet in the world. The first was the United States, the second was Turkey and Israel. We currently have the third largest F-16 fleet, but if the US obstacle in the new F-16 procurement program is overcome, we are likely to become the third largest F-16 user again. The Turkish Air Force, which has been operating the F-16 since 1988, is among the most experienced users in the world in flying, maintaining and sustaining this aircraft.
Ukraine Demands F-16
Ukraine is in constant demand for F-16s and some other fighter jets from the US and other users.
The EPAF (European Participating Air Forces) countries, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Norway, which form a consortium for the purchase of F-16s, are eager to sell the F-16s they have taken out of service to Ukraine. The Netherlands is leading the other EPAF countries in this process. Portugal is also a member of EPAF, but it has sold some of its F-16s to Romania and will continue to operate the rest.
The Netherlands will train Ukrainian pilots first. The training will take place in a former eastern bloc country, Poland being the target.
Although no details about the air defense equipment to be supplied to Ukraine have been disclosed, the training plan includes conversion training, followed by language proficiency and initial flight training, and then the establishment of a training center in an unidentified "Eastern NATO member" country.
The pilots who will operate the F-16 will be selected from among MiG-29 pilots, and a 4-month training period is envisaged. The MiG-29 pilot will learn the F-16 quickly, no problem, but the combat experience is different and will require intensive training flights.
A US F-16 taxiing in front of Ukrainian MiG-29s and Su-27s (from a 2011 exercise in Ukraine).
How will Aircraft Maintenance of F-16s be Conducted?
Learning aircraft maintenance? That is more difficult, it will take a long time to know-perceive-apply aircraft systems, aircraft documentation, control procedures, troubleshooting and troubleshooting procedures, and to carry out all these at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. If Ukraine had aircraft maintainers working on aircraft from the US or even other western countries, the transition to the F-16 might be a bit easier, but the transition from Russian systems will be difficult in many ways. If you try to fly your aircraft with inadequate maintenance, the result will be serious system and even flight safety problems.
Approval has not yet been given by the US, but the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Norway, which have started to take F-16s out of service, are making a serious effort to give some of the F-16s they have taken out of service to Ukraine, not as a grant, but with money. Of course, once the F-16s are delivered, they will continue to provide financial support for a much longer period of time during the maintenance of the aircraft and its systems. European countries are trying to give their F-16s to Ukraine as soon as possible, because they know very well that if they cannot make the connection before the US, the US will provide this support with the F-16s in stock in AMARG and will completely bind Ukraine to itself within the scope of FMS (Foreign Military Sales) (see Ref.-1 for AMARG). However, these European countries are also aware of the need to obtain US approval to provide their F-16s to Ukraine.
The Netherlands has already taken action for the maintenance of the F-16s to be given to Ukraine. They also aim to recruit F-16 Aircraft Maintenance Specialists from Turkey.
By the way, the Netherlands has assumed the leading role in the F-16s to be given to Ukraine. Before sending these decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine, it will carry out major maintenance and some modifications to the F-16s in this country in accordance with the agreement it has made with Romania. It plans to train pilots in Poland. Romania, which procured used F-16s from Portugal, another EPAF country, and decommissioned its MiG-21s with these aircraft, has reached a certain level of experience in F-16 maintenance and sustainment.
The Dutch government has awarded the maintenance and modification of F-16s to be provided by the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Norway to a company that provides MRO&U (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul & Upgrade) services to its air force, as well as the training of Ukrainian aircraft maintenance personnel.
The company in question has begun recruiting aircraft maintenance and overhaul personnel from countries that use F-16s for the services it will provide in Romania. F-16 aircraft maintenance specialists retired from the Turkish Air Force are among those to be employed. This is because the Dutch company is aware of the high level of knowledge and experience of Turkish Air Force F-16 Aircraft Maintenance Personnel. Unfortunately, they also wish to employ Turkish specialists at a more advantageous cost than those from Europe.
The F-16 is currently used by 25 countries.
The F-16 is currently used by 25 countries. Some of these countries have already started to decommission the F-16, but there are also new users who will buy both new F-16s and F-16s that countries have taken out of service. Especially the countries that will purchase and use the out-of-service F-16s will need intensive and continuous MRO&U services. Experienced Turkish F-16 Aircraft Maintenance Specialists will be sought frequently to provide these services.
