– If you are a retired Norwegian F-16 pilot, or are about to retire, then Ukraine needs you, says US Senator Lindsey Graham (R) to news. He has just been to Ukraine and is excited that Ukrainian forces have surprised by capturing Russian territories. – What I think about Kursk? Bold, brilliant, beautiful, says the senator. Graham recently visited Ukraine, and met, among others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. Photo: UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER / Reuters – Takes time to get good On Friday, Graham was in Norway and had a meeting with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. – Norway is in many ways the solution, says the senator. He believes that Ukraine was able to stop the Russian navy in the Black Sea, due to Norwegian expertise. Now he is courting retired pilots. – They will pay you, and you can get a flight, as well as use your experience and your skills to defend Ukraine and really fight for freedom, says Graham. He explains that Ukraine has six jets, but that they will get more, and then experienced pilots are needed. – What is good news for us is that this region has many well-trained F-16 pilots, says Graham. Too few pilots Norwegian pilots are currently training Ukrainian F-16 pilots in Denmark. According to Flying Magazine, Ukraine will have 20 of its own Ukrainian pilots during the year, but they will have twice as many planes. – I mentioned this to Zelenskyj. Would you be willing to hire F-16 pilots from this part of the world if they are willing to help your air force? He said yes, so we’ll see what he does, says Graham. In the US, there is a debate about how long the military support for Ukraine can last. Although many in the Republican Party want to cut support, Graham believes it is important to continue. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB The senator says that there is declining support in the US for the war in Ukraine. – My goal is to remind the American people that if you don’t stop Putin now, you will meet him again later. Norway understands this, says Graham. He emphasizes the importance of Ukraine winning the war. – We have two conflicts that must end well. If we end the war in Ukraine and it appears that Putin got what he wanted by force, then Taiwan is next. China is following along. – Not easy But Norway has no plans to follow up on Graham’s proposal to send Norwegian pilots. – The armed forces are not going to send retired F-16 pilots to Ukraine. Spokesperson for the Norwegian Armed Forces, Endre Nedberg, writes to news. He does not answer whether retired F-16 pilots have obligations to the Ministry of Defense’s regulations after they have retired, or whether they are exempt from enlisting with Ukrainian forces on their own behalf. – Flying the F-16 is fresh product knowledge. It’s something you have to train for all the time, says retired lieutenant general Arne Bård Dalhaug, to news. He adds that most Norwegian F-16 pilots move on to other positions, usually in their 40s. – Therefore, it is quite difficult to imagine that there is any particular number of pilots who have a training that allows them to go off and fly F-16 aircraft without further ado. What Norwegian air personnel could contribute, however, is the management of air operations, he believes. – On the side that has to do with command control, management and operational management, I would say that we have many who are competent, who perhaps retired not too long ago, says Dalhaug. Can cause language problems Associate Professor Lars Peder Haga at the Norwegian Air Force School understands that some may think that it is a good idea to use retired Norwegian pilots, but points out that there are several obstacles. – Getting Norwegians to work in the Ukrainian defense can be problematic, as communication is in Ukrainian and not English. They also have a different approach to our defence, and you have to be well coordinated to be able to carry out operations together. The air force stopped using the F16 aircraft in January 2022 in connection with the adoption of new F35 aircraft. This can also make it difficult to use Norwegian pilots, says Haga. – An F16 pilot also expires quickly, because there is a requirement that you must have a certain number of hours to be operational. Published 17.08.2024, at 16.25
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American senator calls on Norwegian F-16 pilots to contribute in Ukraine – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
