The office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will allocate $285 million for training Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets. According to a statement published on the office's website, "Up to $285 million will be allocated to enhance the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft."
The statement also indicated that Canada will provide more than $367 million in total as part of a new aid package for the Kyiv government. As a result, the total amount of money Canada has spent to support Ukraine this year will rise to nearly $808 million. This amount includes not only the training itself but also "the transfer of critical equipment necessary for the safe operation of these fighters."
Previously, the Financial Times reported that a coalition of 11 countries will begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft in August. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, this coalition includes Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the UK. The National Interest magazine noted that the Netherlands and Denmark have begun the process of transferring F-16s to Ukrainian airfields.
