Romania will host a pilot training center for F16 aircraft

The Romanian Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, signed, on Tuesday, the Letter of Intent between the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Lockheed Martin Company regarding the F16 Training Center in Romania. The event took place on the sidelines of the Informal Meeting of the EU Defense Ministers, held in Toledo, Spain. The document concerns the establishment of the F16 Training Center in Romania, an initiative designed to support the development of the skills of Romanian pilots in operating such aircraft by carrying out a varied range of strategic missions.

Angel Tîlvăr: „This initiative will support the development of Romanian pilots’ skills. We will be able to provide a high-quality training environment with access to technical resources and know-how not only for us, but also for partners, including Ukraine, if necessary. The level of training will increase strongly, all the more since we are also waiting for more F16 planes to arrive. I am optimistic about the pace in which this center will be established”.

In order to implement this project, the Royal Netherlands Air Force will contribute by deploying some F16 aircraft to an air base in Romania, thus facilitating the effective training of Romanian pilots. Also, Lockheed Martin Company will provide technical support of the highest level, with flight instructors and technical-engineering personnel. Through this solid cooperation, a complex training will be ensured, in accordance with international standards, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has stressed.

The F16 Training Center at the 86th Air Base will become a relevant regional center, a fact already consolidated by the signing of the Joint Declaration at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, in July 2023. Romania thus joins other allied nations, such as Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in supporting the training of Ukrainian pilots for the future use of F16 aircraft.

Bucharest hopes that the future F16 Training Center in Romania will demonstrate its strategic importance, which aims to meet the complex security requirements of Romania, allies and partners in the region. This joint effort strengthens Romania’s position as a regional leader in the training of F16 pilots, contributing to alliance cohesion, demonstrating unity and strengthening Euro-Atlantic defense, Minister Angel Tîlvăr said. The center will be partly financed by Romania. On the other hand, the Romanian minister is sure that, given the fact that there are European initiatives aimed at common training and common defense, Bucharest will also benefit from funds intended for such centers from the European partners.

Ştefan Stoica, Radio Romania International