Ukraine has reported training nearly 100 cadet pilots during 2025, as part of a broader effort to expand and professionalize its aviation personnel pipeline while continuing combat operations against Russia, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
In an update published on January 2, 2026, the ministry noted the scaling-up of aviation training was driven by both operational wartime needs and longer-term plans to integrate Western aircraft, standards and procedures into Ukraine’s air force structure.
Alongside pilot training, the ministry reported that 437 state certificates had been issued to aviation personnel following qualification exams in 2025. These certifications covered a broad range of aviation professions and were described as confirmation of compliance with national professional standards.
Training extends beyond the cockpit
Ukraine’s 2025 aviation training effort extended well beyond the cockpit. According to the ministry, programs included not only pilots but also engineering and technical personnel, airfield support and logistics specialists, and operators of monitoring and reconnaissance systems.
Unmanned aviation remained a major focus area. The ministry claimed that more than 5,000 unmanned aerial system (UAS) operators were trained during the year, reflecting the central role of drones in Ukraine’s air and ground operations.
A key development in 2025 was the expansion of a certified domestic training network inside Ukraine. The ministry linked this to a Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution adopted on October 1, 2024, which launched an experimental certification framework for training institutions. Eight leading organizations received certified status during the year, bringing the total number of authorized training institutions to 34, including 19 centers focused specifically on UAS operators.
Backed by the Air Force Capability Coalition
The reported training figures reflect a multi-year effort coordinated with international partners through the so-called Air Force Capability Coalition, which supports Ukraine’s transition toward Western combat aviation.
The United States, Denmark, and the Netherlands have all played leading roles in training pilots and ground crews for F-16 operations, alongside infrastructure, sustainment and interoperability work.
Other European partners have contributed complementary training pipelines. France, for example, has trained Ukrainian pilots on the Alpha Jet and expanded its support to aircraft-specific preparation and technical personnel, in parallel with its decision to supply Mirage 2000-5 fighters.
On November 17, 2025, Ukraine and France signed a letter of intent covering a potential purchase of up to 100 Rafale fighters as part of long-term force structure planning, less than a month after a similar deal was signed with Sweden covering the potential sale of more than 100 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighters.
Together, these national efforts form a distributed training ecosystem rather than a single-track program, aimed at generating not only pilots but also the broader aviation workforce Ukraine needs to sustain combat operations and modernize its air force under wartime pressure.
