TOTAL BS.
It’s not just an airplane, it’s a platform, a weapon system that carries many different missiles and yes of course guns too.
It takes a lot of simulator time and actual practice to master the various onboard weapons. Most of the time is spent becoming familiar with those. This training is ESSENTIAL to survival.
Not to mention the American and allied pilots normally go through a much longer training program that encompasses air refueling, formation (including in the weather), and tactics — lots of training in tactics.
And it’s a MUCH less effective weapons system without the supporting AWACs, tankers, and satellite support.
It’s much too expensive a weapons system to just give to some third-world yahoos after a few orientation rides.
“It’s much too expensive a weapons system to just give to some third-world yahoos after a few orientation rides.”
LOL.
The two were rated very high by the USAF instructors who had 1500-2200 hours in F-16s.
Keep in mind that the UA pilots are experienced combat pilots, who were very good at low level flying and rated highly.