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‘English Only’: Ukraine’s F-16 Fighters Come in Just 1 Language
National Security Journal ^ | 7/1/2025 | Reuben Johnson

Posted on 07/01/2025 7:32:41 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111

The chief obstacle in preparing these pilots so far has been language training. The cockpit audio system of the F-16 that provides important warning messages to the pilot only “speaks” English.

Any pilots not completely fluent in the language will be handicapped—and possibly also in danger—if they lack the required level of fluency.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalsecurityjournal.org ...


TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: airfarceofukraine; airforce; ajonkingdisaster; beggarsnotchoosers; f16; military; multiplenicks; nospeakyenglish; notourcrapholewar; notpayingcustomers; ohnoanyway; proxywar; putinthewarpig; russia; russianseverywhere; russiansuicide; russiantrollfarm; swampniks; ukraine; vladtheimploder; welfarewar; zeepharderforvictory
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You send to Ukraine jets that are mostly in English. Well, who thought of that? Biden?
1 posted on 07/01/2025 7:32:41 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111
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To: whyilovetexas111

Way to go to waste billions! 🙄


2 posted on 07/01/2025 7:35:57 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: whyilovetexas111

The jets are TOO EXPENSIVE to let Ukrainians fly them in combat, so I have trouble believing the Neocons when they claim there are no NATO pilots flying them.


3 posted on 07/01/2025 7:36:13 AM PDT by BobL
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To: whyilovetexas111

If a jet costs $50 million dollars, why can’t someone pay a few hundred for a language translation or translator?


4 posted on 07/01/2025 7:37:33 AM PDT by Engraved-on-His-hands
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To: whyilovetexas111

English is the language of pilots. If you don’t know English you should not fly.


5 posted on 07/01/2025 7:37:50 AM PDT by poinq (thics and customs and did not take an oath to the country. And did not follow the country's traditio)
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To: whyilovetexas111

About a quarter of Ukrainians speak English, and I’d imagine that’s much higher for the young, highly trained pilots in the military.


6 posted on 07/01/2025 7:45:20 AM PDT by Kleon
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To: whyilovetexas111

Strap an iPhone to the console set on google-translate.

Probably wouldn’t work at Mach 2 though....


7 posted on 07/01/2025 7:45:59 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: whyilovetexas111

The F-16 has been exported to many countries and those countries have put the plane into service.


8 posted on 07/01/2025 7:49:31 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: whyilovetexas111

English is the international language of aviation. I would think most Ukranian pilots (if not all) speak English.


9 posted on 07/01/2025 7:51:26 AM PDT by volare737 (Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated. )
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To: BobL
We have trained lots of non-native English speaking pilots to fly F16s just in NATO.

Learning English is a requirement for all NATO military officers.

10 posted on 07/01/2025 7:58:55 AM PDT by pierrem15 ("Massacrez-les, car le seigneur connait les siens" )
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To: whyilovetexas111

I can only guess, but it seems that anyone smart enough to fly a fighter jet could master the limited “vocabulary” of F16 emergency warnings, call-outs, and numbers. It’s not going to involve a free-wheeling conversation about esoteric subjects.

This bs article wouldn’t be selling a cover story for something else, would it...?


11 posted on 07/01/2025 7:58:56 AM PDT by Chewbarkah
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To: whyilovetexas111

This is kinda like an inverse-Firefox. (That movie with Clint Eastwood).

“You must think RUSSIAN!”


12 posted on 07/01/2025 8:02:01 AM PDT by FrankRizzo890
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To: volare737
"English is the international language of aviation."

Correct!

Also, altitude is in feet or flight levels.

Airspeed is in knots.

Dials use numbers.

Altimeter setting can be set in inches of mercury or millibars.

Note: ruzzian aircraft that are exported have placards in ruzzian and english.

Here's a notional F-16 cockpit.


13 posted on 07/01/2025 8:05:02 AM PDT by FtrPilot
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To: pierrem15

Yew, we also trained Iranian pilots in the 70s, and yes, they all had to speak English.


14 posted on 07/01/2025 8:06:08 AM PDT by volare737 ( Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated. )
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To: whyilovetexas111
English is the International language of aviation.

Maintainers in most nations have a working knowledge of technical English.

(Which is one of the reasons most Arab nations use UK and US expats as maintenance personnel. Also they just suck at maintenance.).

15 posted on 07/01/2025 8:06:44 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("You'll never hear surf music again" - J. Hendrix)
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To: FtrPilot

Yep, Russia used to use meters, and not feet, for altitude, but even they have transitioned. (and are still transitioning) to using feet for altitude.


16 posted on 07/01/2025 8:12:36 AM PDT by volare737 ( Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated. )
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To: whyilovetexas111
It isn't like having to read, listen, and understand the complete works of Shakespeare.

Any fighter pilot who wants to live had better instinctively know where every instrument is located, what it is for and what it means.

When the lady starts telling him things, he better instinctively know why that lady is there in the first place, under what kind of situation she will ever speak to him and what it is she is saying.

17 posted on 07/01/2025 8:12:48 AM PDT by fso301
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To: Engraved-on-His-hands

Because the software would cost millions more to provide the translations. This isn’t web site software.


18 posted on 07/01/2025 8:15:02 AM PDT by CodeToad
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To: Engraved-on-His-hands
why can’t someone pay a few hundred for a language translation or translator?

There may not be a translator (yet) for the military terms used.

One of my friends, Bill St. Amour (may he R.I.P.) was an Army Major, Russian - English translator during the SALT talks.

He found there was no dictionary of military and diplomatic terms, so he wrote the book.

There may be the same problem with Ukranian.

19 posted on 07/01/2025 8:16:00 AM PDT by Mogger ( 7th generation Vermonter, refugee in New Hampshire hoping NH remains sane.)
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To: FrankRizzo890

Thats what I thought. Built in security, gotta know the language.


20 posted on 07/01/2025 8:18:36 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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