In 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in collaboration with international partners and Ukrainian educational institutions, significantly expanded the training system for aviation specialists and operators of unmanned aerial systems.
The Ministry of Defense reported this.
As noted in the department, the Ministry of Defense implemented a program to develop the human resources potential of the Air Forces of Ukraine’s armed forces and unmanned systems units.
The ministry stated that within the framework of the Coalition of Air Forces, training for several groups of Ukrainian pilots who have mastered modern Western-produced aviation platforms has been completed. The training programs were adapted to take into account real combat experience and the interoperability requirements of NATO countries’ forces.
In addition to the flight crews, training abroad was also provided for:
engineering and technical service specialists responsible for maintaining the operational readiness of aircraft
ground personnel specializing in airfield maintenance and logistics
a group of operators trained to work with monitoring and intelligence systems using specialized equipment
One of the key achievements of the year was the establishment of a network of certified training centers in Ukraine for unmanned systems operators. This was made possible through the launch of a government pilot project to certify such schools.
To date, eight leading educational organizations have obtained certified status, and a total of 34 institutions now have permits to train specialists, 19 of which focus specifically on UAV operations.
Thanks to the involvement of state and private instructor schools, in 2025, more than 5 thousand operators of unmanned aircraft complexes were trained.
At the same time, Ukraine continues to train future military pilots, with nearly one hundred cadets currently in training to form the backbone of the country’s Air Force.
Following qualification exams, aviation personnel received 437 state certificates confirming their compliance with professional standards.
The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the development of its own personnel training system allows Ukraine not only to integrate Western equipment effectively but also to ensure the continuous strengthening of the air component of the armed forces in wartime.
“Systematic training of people is the foundation of our superiority in the air. We are not only integrating Western models of equipment, but also creating our own autonomous training ecosystem, which is capable of promptly providing the front with qualified personnel – from fighter pilots to FPV drone operators,” said Oleksandr Kozenko, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for the Development of Aviation Capabilities.
It is worth adding that since August 2024, F-16 fighters have become an integral part of the Ukrainian air shield. During their months of service, they have intercepted more than 1,300 air targets and delivered over 300 effective strikes on enemy positions. On the night of November 19, 2025, alone, F-16 and Mirage-2000 pilots destroyed about 10 missiles.
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It should be noted that a year ago in the UK, before training on F-16 fighters, 200 Ukrainian pilots had already undergone basic flight, ground, and language training.
The Czech Republic has also delivered the first F-16 combat aircraft simulator to one of Ukraine’s tactical aviation brigades. Ukrainian pilots are already using the simulator to train for combat missions.
In addition, the French army continues to train Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots and also conducts training for gunners.
In 2025, Norway continued its training program for Ukrainian Defense Forces pilots and technical personnel on American F-16 fighter jets. The training, previously held in Denmark, will now take place in Portugal following the conclusion of the Danish program at the end of 2024.
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