“US can train F-16 pilots in four months”
The US Air Force can train Ukrainian pilots to fly US F-16 fighter jets in four months. Yahoo! Information based on internal documents. This is a much shorter time frame than indicated so far.
Two Ukrainian airmen, one qualified to fly a MiG-29 and a Su-27 (Soviet-era fighter), flew more than eleven in a simulator with the F-16. In it they could perform “technically advanced” maneuvers and feint attacks.
A sticking point for Ukrainian pilots is the F-16’s complex avionics, where information is displayed in English.
Air raid siren in effect throughout Ukraine
Air raid sirens are sounding all over Ukraine. According to Ukrainian authorities, anti-aircraft systems have been activated in several regions. The Ukrainian military reports on Telegram that Russian planes are in the air and attacks with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles are imminent. According to reports, drone strikes may occur in central areas of the country.
Ukraine reported “stealth” air strikes on the capital Kiev and other parts of the country on Wednesday night. One person is said to have been killed in an attack in Odessa in the south. According to the Ukrainian military, Russia fired 30 land, sea and air cruise missiles that night. Ukraine claims to have taken 29 in the air, but Russia says the attack was successful.
UK ban on Russian diamonds, EU restricts trade
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to announce further sanctions against Russia at G7 summit. He concerns the ban on diamonds and Russian metals such as copper, aluminum and nickel.
European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday from Hiroshima that the EU would “restrict” trade in Russian diamonds. Previous European consultations on a ban on Russian diamonds have met resistance from, among others, Belgium, which buys a lot of diamonds from Russia.
It is estimated that the diamond trade generates about four billion euros a year for Russia.
New US sanctions against Russia
The United States will completely cut another seventy companies from Russia or with Russian connections from American exports. In addition, about 300 people will be added to the sanctions list.
The purpose of the new sanctions, according to the source, is to stop the “Russian war machine”, plug the leaks and further reduce the dependence on Russian energy.