Tim Mak
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Here's what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

"It flies like a dream. But flying is the easiest part. The rest is more difficult," A Belgian F-16 pilot remarks on the long road ahead for Ukrainian F-16s. Not only are the logistical aspects of software, weapons systems, and spare parts a headache, but Russia is more likely to target Ukrainian airbases if Western jets are supplied.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65897919

Ukraine war: The challenges of training F-16 pilots
Published
1 day ago


By Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent, Norway

Supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets will "not be a silver bullet" or a "quick fix", says the head of Norway's Air Force. Maj Gen Rolf Folland says it'll take time for Ukraine to develop the ability to operate Western jets with complex weapons.

We meet at a large allied air exercise taking place over Norway, Finland and Sweden. It involves 150 fighter planes - many more than the entire Ukrainian Air Force.

Gen Folland says the training is about dominating the skies - to avoid what he calls the type of "old fashioned" conflict now taking place in Ukraine.

"It flies like a dream", he says. "But flying is the easiest part. The rest is more difficult."

That includes learning to operate the F-16's radar, sensors and weapons. Ukraine, which currently has more pilots than aircraft, is hoping to compress that training into months.