Getting more F-16s is only half the battle. Ukraine also desperately needs to be training more pilots.

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A Romanian F-16 flying above the clouds.
The F-16 is a combat-proven American-made fourth-generation fighter that is in use across NATO. A batch of the jets were recently delivered to Ukraine to aid its fight against Russia, but building a new fighter fleet is no easy task.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn

Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots have had to dramatically change the way they fly after long flying Soviet jets, and it's a lot to overcome

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Ukrainian Air Force's F-16 fighter jet flies in the air against a grey sky
Ukrainian Air Force's F-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location in Ukraine in August 2024.

AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File

What made this Russian fighter jet's shockingly aggressive maneuvers near a US F-16 so dangerous

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A screenshot of a Russian Su-35 flying at an angle in front of the nose of a US F-16. A blue sky and clouds are in the background.
The Russian Su-35 made an "unsafe" and "unprofessional" maneuver near a US F-16 on September 23, NORAD said.

North American Aerospace Defense Command

The old F-16s the West is giving Ukraine can't outmatch Russia's best jets, former US general says

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A Ukrainian F-16 flying against grey skies.
A Ukrainian Air Force F-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on August 4.

AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

Video captures a Russian fighter jet dangerously ripping past a US F-16 during an intercept

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A white and blue Russian Su-35 flies above white clouds and against a blue sky.
NORAD command called the Su-35's conduct "unsafe" and "unprofessional."

North American Aerospace Defense Command

Ukraine faces rising questions over whether the F-16 and pilot it lost were shot down by friendly fire from a Patriot missile battery

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General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons received by Ukraine fly on August 4.
Ukraine's first loss of an F-16 and its pilot, Oleksiy Mes, are huge blows to the country's armed forces.

Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Ukraine just dismissed the commander of its air force after losing an F-16 and a pilot in a battle against Russian missiles

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Ukraine's president stands in front of an F-16 at a press event. There are trees in the background, and the fighter jet is partially covered.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he speaks to media representatives while standing in front of an F16 fighter jet during Ukrainian Air Forces Day at an undisclosed location on August 4, 2024.

SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine lost an F-16 and a top pilot after one of the fighter jets crashed while battling Russian missiles

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A Ukrainian air force F-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on August 4.
A Ukrainian air force F-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on August 4, 2024.

AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

A US Air Force squadron tinkered with the electronic warfare systems on Ukraine's new F-16s so they could fight evolving Russian threats

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A view from ground level of a fighter jet taking off from a grassy field with flowers.
A Ukrainian Air Force F-16 takes off from an undisclosed location.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy via X

Ukraine's F-16s may be getting long-range cruise missiles to hit targets hundreds of miles away: report

Tech Insider
F-16 Fighting Falcons perform in the sky as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a speech congratulating the Ukrainian military.
The US is in talks with Ukraine to send long-range cruise missiles for its F-16s.

Anadolu/ Getty Images

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