Ukraine denies claims that foreign F-16 pilots are working in its air force
February 18, 2026
As Kyiv struggles to repel a maelstrom of Russian attacks on its civilian energy infrastructure, a new report claims Ukraine has a squadron flying piloted by veteran private former US and Dutch F-16 pilots. Ukraine has denied the claim.
New report claims Western-piloted Ukrainian F-16 squadron
Yesterday, the French publication Intelligence Online caused a stir when it reported that a squadron of F-16s piloted by former US and Dutch pilots had been formed to protect the airspace over Kyiv.
“A squadron comprising Ukrainian, US, and Dutch pilots has been assembled to protect Kyiv’s airspace. These seasoned veterans are notably being deployed to help fend off Russian cruise missiles and drones.”
The Intelligence Online article said the units have taken a central role in the Kyiv region’s defence, countering missile and drone strikes. It asserts the unit is “part of the gradual build-up of the fleet the West is delivering to Ukraine.”
The publication claims the foreign pilots are not part of the classic Ukrainian chain of command, but operate under temporary six-month, but renewable contracts in a capacity similar to specialised contractors.
Really impressive video of a Shahed being shot down by an F-16 fighter jet from the 107th Aviation Wing of the Ukrainian Air Force.
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) February 8, 2026
The interception was carried out using the aircraft’s M61A1 Vulcan onboard rotary cannon. pic.twitter.com/cPsrdBIEaA
It claims, “They do not hold any official rank within the Ukrainian hierarchy, despite their past careers, and do not appear in publicly available lists of personnel.”
Are foreign F-16 pilots policing Ukraine’s skies?
The article claims the squadron is active almost daily in intercepting cruise missiles, notably Kalibr and Kh-101, in addition to the Shahed-style drones.
It adds, “The F-16s are used for patrols, often at night, in order to maximise radar coverage and rapid response capabilities in a sky saturated with signals and jamming.”
Interestingly, the publication claims that at the heart of the squadron’s success is the Lockheed Martin Sniper targeting pod. It is used for long-range identification, tracking fast targets, and engagement in poor weather.
While Ukrainian aircrews are able to use the system, it is claimed they lack the expertise that foreign pilots enjoy from years of training with it. This is where the Western veterans’ contribution is the most decisive.
Without naming anyone, it claims the US pilots have flown numerous combat missions in Afghanistan and elsewhere, while “several” Dutch pilots are highly trained from leading European air combat schools.
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Ukraine denies foreign pilots are flying its F-16s
Kyiv responded to the report, denying it. Hours after publication, a spokesperson of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ignat, ironically declared, “Aha! And Tom Cruise leads the squadron.”
As with every major war, the true extent of Western assistance to Ukraine and the true extent of Chinese and North Korean assistance to Russia will not be known until decades after the war ends.
Kyiv has previously said that its shortage of trained pilots is a greater limiting factor than the shortage of fighter jets. Europeans have now donated dozens of F-16s as well as a few Mirage 2000s, but piloting them is another matter. Pilot depth is one of the most important metrics of the air force strategic depths of any air force.
Aerotime wrote, “Ukraine reported training nearly 100 cadet pilots in 2025, alongside broader efforts to train engineers, technicians, and other aviation specialists.”
Before the F-16s arrived in Ukraine, some former US pilots repeatedly remarked they knew several former fighter pilots who would be willing to fly the F-16s in Ukraine if conditions allowed.
If it is true, then the development would appear similar to the US Flying Tigers (with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks) that aided Chinese forces against the Japanese invasion and the foreign pilots who volunteered to help Britain in the Battle of Britain.
Featured Image: Ukrainian Air Force
